US130668A - Improvement in apparatus for distilling petroleum - Google Patents

Description

W. B, S'NOW.- improve-ment in Apparatus for Di'stilling Petroleum.

P atent'ed Aug 20,1812..

STATES VILLIAM B. SNOW, OF BROOKLYN, NEWXYORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR DlSTlLLlNGfPETROLlEUIVlfl Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,668,1lated August 20, i872.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM B. SNOW, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Distilling Petroleum; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the gures.

In the distillation of petroleum oils in the ordinary still, comprising a sheet-metal tank with a lire underneath, as soon as vapor begins to pass off from the crude material that portion of the latter in contact with the bottom, or most highly heated part of the tank, is burned by the comparatively intense heat, and forms a film of carbonaceous matter upon the surface just mentioned, this being accompanied by the formation of carbonio-acid gas,

which passes into and dilutes the vapors generated by the process of distillation, within certain narrow limits. The lm or deposit serves a good purpose, inasmuch as a continnous removal, as, for example by scraping', would not only expose a constantly fresh surface of highly-heated vmetal to the oil, and, of course, cause a still more rapid carbonization and a greatly increased waste, but would also result in a constant powdering of the deposit which, mingling with the crude oil, would be highly detrimental to the complete volatization of the hydrocarbons. vOn the other hand, if the deposit be left alone it rapidly accumulates, interfering with the 4proper working of the still, causing a waste of the oil by the consumption of a portion thereof in the carboni zation just specified, diluting the condensible vapors with carbonio acid and deteriorating the quality of the distillate, this latter for the reason that the heavier constituents of pe-V troleum which, from their superior gravity, sink to the bottom of the still, and are the first to be attacked and decomposed by the heated metallic surface, are also those from which oils having the highest fire-test are obtained. To avoid, therefore, these drawbacks, and to provide a means whereby the practical advantages of the film of carbonaceousmatter in the heated surface of the shell may be obtained without any material or hurtful increase in such film or deposit, I have recourse to, and my invention consists in, the'combination, with the tank or body of a suitable still, of reciprocating blades and dashers, so

constructed, arranged and operated as to keep up a constant agitation of the contents ofthe tank during the distillin g process, without any scraping action whatever upon the bottom of such tank, by which means the desired object is ef'ectually obtained. My invention also consists in certain novel combinations of parts whereby the more efiicientv operation of the just-mentioned feature of my said invention is secured. 4

4To enable others to understand the nature and operation of my invention, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawing.

A is the metallic tank or body of the still, of any suitable configuration or construction, furnished with appropriate means for maintaining a fire underneath and provided with an outlet-pipe, B, through which the vapors generated or evolved during the process of distillation pass to the condenser. Within the tank, one near each end thereof, are hangers C, the general form of which is more particularly shown in Fig. 2, and which are bolted firmly to the upper part of the tank, as shown at a, rlhese hangers carry the bearings b of a rock-shaft, D, wholly within the tank and provided with two radial arms c, to the outer end of which is attached the blade or dasher E, which has a position longitudinal with that of the tank. rIhe bearings b are -so located that the sweep or movement of the dasher is concentric with the bottom of the still, and near, but quite out of contact with the same. The hangers by which the bearings Z are sustained, being attached, as set forth, to the up` per part of the tank, are wholly out of the Way of the dasher in its movement, hereinafter more particularly explained, and at the same time allow a more facile adjustment ofthe bearings and obviate, in a greater degree, any strain upon the tank in the working of the apparatus than if the said bearingsib were lilled upon the ends ofthe tank. Upon one end of the rock-shaft D is a crank-ann, d, which connects, bya rod, e, with a crank, j", on the inner end of a drivin g-shaft, F, which passes through a long bearing, g, in the end, but at the upper part thereof of the tank. This driving-shaft has at its outer end a pulley, G, by which a rotatory motion is given thereto. The rotation of the drivin g-shaft F acting through the erankj, rod e, and crank-arm d, communicate motion to the rock-shaft D, and cause the dasher E to move to and fro with a vibratory or reciprocating motion, just clear of the adjacent surface ofthe bottom ot' the tank, and in i such mannerY as to thoroughly agitate the contents of suoli tank, thereby maintaining a uniform admiXture throughout the whole of its lighter and heavier components, and preventing any portion of the whole from remaining in contact with the bottom for a length of time sufficient to become oarbonized, or to add in any material degree to the film designedly allowed to accumulate and remain thereon, in the manner and for the purpose herein previously explained-the distillation of the entire quantity of petroleum or crude oil being by this means secured Without the excessive Waste arising from the earbonization of that portion of the oil allowed to come in contact invention being applicable to tanks of otherconfiguration than that herein particularly described. v

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' 1.V The arrangement within the'tank'oi" the rock-shaft D, carrying the dasher E, the crank f, rod c, and crankarm d, ofthe driving-shaft F, for operation substantially as and for the purpose specitied. y

2. rlhe arrangement of the hangers C, attached to the upper part ofthe tank and sus taining the bearings b of the rock-shaft D, carrying the dasher E, situated wholly Within the tank, substantially as and for the purpose specified. A

W. B. SNOW. lvitnesses:

FRED. HAYNES, R. E. RAnnAU.

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