US1323204A - Appabattjs fob distilling oil from oil-bearing - Google Patents

Description

H. R. STRAIGHT.

I APPARATUS FOH-DISTILLING 01L FROM OIL BEARING SHALES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3!. I918. V 1,823,204. Patented Nov. 25,1919.

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H. R. STRAIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING OIL FROM OIL-BEARING SHALES.

1 23,204. Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

HEETSSHEET 2 Invader @mew @6 2% mm m! a T Y m W n APPARATUS H. R. STRAIGHT. FOR DISTILLING OIL FROM OIL BEARING SHALESV APPLICATION HLED .IULY 31.1918.

Patented Nov; 25, 1919'.

SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H.'R. STRAIGHT. APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING OIL FROM OIL BEARING SHALES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31.1918. 1,323,204. Patented Nov. 25,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Fig. 4.

- the vapors, and in which UNITED s'rArns PATENT OFFICE.

-HALVEB R. STRAIGHT, O F ADEL, IOWA.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING OIL FROM OIL-BEARING SHALES.

and resident of Adel, in the county of Dallas and State of Iowa, have invented acertain new and useful Ap aratus for Distilling Oil from Oil-Bearing ghales, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, for distilling oil from oil bearing shales. p

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this kind whereby large-quantities of shale may be subjected to the necessary amount of heat during the necessary length of time for vapor zing the oil product in a minimum of time, whereby a relatively inexpensive apparatus is provided that will treat relatively large quantities ofshale in a time. A further object is to provide-a device of this class in which steam may be intro:

duced into the shale at proper times for assisting in the distillation and separation of the shale may be repeatedly turned over or agitated to assist the escape of the vapors from the mass of shale.

A further tus of this class in which the oilbea-ring shales may be continuously moved in wide-,- thin layers over a substantially horizontally arranged heating chamber, through a series of vapor chambers above the shale so that the vapor when once released from the shale will immediately pass into a vapor chamber from which it may begdrawn-to a suitable -condenser and container therefor, and maintamed separated fromthe vapors later released, and whereby the separation of the vapors from the shale is accomplished rapidly and with a maximum of efficiency.

A further object is to provide an improved means for conveying shale in a thin, wide layer without permitting the flame from the heater to penetrate through the layer of shale or to become commingled with the vapors arising from the shale.

A further ob ect is to provide an imoved car device for carrying the thin layer of shale through the heated areas of the apparatus and for maintaining the shale carried thereby at a uniform thickness.

A further object is to provide improved object is to provide an ap g;

Specif cation of Letters Patent. Patented N 25, 1919. Application filed. July 31, 1918. Seria1 No. 247,693. I I

means for advancing the ..cars through the heated areas of the apparatus, and to maintainthem in close contact with each other purpose of subjecting substantially all of the shale on the cars to the action of the steam, and for compelling the steam, or the major portion of it, to travel through the thin layer of shale uniformly before escapvapor chambers.

A .further object is to provide improved means for sealin the vapor chamber from the combustion c amber at-all times during the travel of the shale bearingcars, to thereby avoid the possibility of the flame from .the combustion chamber igniting the vapors. I f' My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the apparatus, whereby the-objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set' forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the drawings, in which: I

' Figure 1 shows 'a vertical, central, longitu dinal,-sectional view of the frontor loading end of an apparatus embodying my .inven t1on.

Fig. 2 portion of the same. I

Fig. 3 hows a like view of the rear or accompanying i discharge end portion of the same.

Fig. 4 shows a transverse, sectional view on the line 4-4: of Fig.- 2.

section, illustrating the shale contaming hopper and the means for delivering material therefrom to the cars as they enter the distilling chamber. Fig. 6 shows a. detail sectional view, illusto provide an iming through the top of the shale into the shows a like view of the central trating the friction clutch device applied to the axle of the means for ushing the cars into the receiving chamber eneath the hopper.

. Fig. 5 shows an end elevatlon, partly in 1 Fig. 7 shows a detail, side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the means for coupling together the sand seals of the shale carrying cars.

Fig. 8 shows a detail top or plan view of the steam nozzle device for injecting steam under the layer of shale.

Fig. 9 shows a side elevation of same.

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 shows an enlarged, detail, sectional view, illustrating the sand seal between the ends of the two adjoining shale carrying cars.

Fig. 12 shows a sectional View illustrating the shale leveling and gas sealing device for the receiving end of the vapor chamber, and

Fig. 13 shows a side elevation of one of the shale stirring plows.

Referring'to the accompanying drawings,

I have used the reference numeral 10 to 1ndicate generally the base of the apparatus, having upright side walls 11 and the top arch 12 preferably-made, or at least lined, with fire brick.

At about the horizontal center of the chamber thus formed are the recesses 13, containing the rails 14, and upon these rails are mounted the shale carrying cars, which, together with the sand sealing devices, constitute a sort of horizontally arranged partition separating the combustion chamber from the vapor chamber. The combustion chamber is indicated generally by the numeral 15, and the vapor chamber is indicated generally by the numeral 16. Within the combustion chamber is a series of gas jets 17 or other suitable means for supplymg heat.

The shale carrying cars each comprise a fiat base member 18 preferably'provided with ribs 19 on its upper surface for strengthening purposes. At the sides of the base member 18 are the upright sides 20 for forming a container for the shale. These sides ieferably "project downwardly a considera le distance below the bottom 18, and

these projecting members are indicated by the numeral 21, and are for the purpose of forming a sand seal. Directly beneath these projecting members 21 is a longitudinally arranged recess 22 in the side wall, which recess is preferably filled with sand or the like to receive'the sea-ling members 21.

On the sides of the shale carrying cars thus formed are the flanged supporting wheels 23 to travel upon the rails 14.

At one end of each car is a trough-shaped sealing member 25, and at the other end a downwardly extending coacting sealing member 26. The trough-shaped member is filled with a sealing material. such as sand, and the other member enters it, as shown in Fig. 11, thus preventing the entrance of flame to the spaces between the ends of the cars.

For the purpose of preventing the passage of flame from the combustion chamber into the vapor chamber, and also for the purpose of preventing the vapor from surrounding the walls and entering the sand seal at the sides of the cars, I have provided plates 27 fixed at their upper ends to the walls 11 and extended downwardly and yieldingly engaging the inner surfaces of the u right sides of the cars, as clearly shown in ig. 4:.

For the purpose .of loading the shale carrying cars with a layer of shale of uniform depth, I have provided a suitable hopper 28 arranged beneath a railway track 29, which hopper is provided with downwardly and inwardly inclined sides '30 extended to points just inside of the sides of the cars. On the car receiving end of the hopper is an upright partition-member 31, with its lower end extended downwardly to a point flush with the tops of the sides of the cars, and on the other side of the hopper member adjacent to the vapor chamber, is a wall 32.

Beneath this wall 32 is a shale leveling and gas sealin device illustrated in detail in Fig. 12. T is device comprises a metal plate 33 extended downwardly and forwardly to a point just over the top of the shale carrying cars, and on the interior of the vapor chamber is an apron 3t hinged or flexibly secured at its forward upper end to the Wall and extended downwardly and designed to rest upon the shale carried by the car. Hence, by having the device for leveling off the top of the shale and then an apron for lying fiat against the level portion of the shale, the escape of vapor at this point is substantially prevented.

To provide means for preventing the escape of heat from the receiving end of the combustion chamber, I have provided a flat metal plate 35 extended in a substantially horizontal direction and designed to project under and contact with two of the sand sealing troughs of two adjacent cars. This plate is held upwardly into yielding contact with these sealing troughs by means of a weight 36, the plate being pivotally supported upon a T-beam 37 resting on the wall 38.

The products of combustion, after passing under the shale carrying cars, is discharged through the transverse flue 39 to a suitable stack.

To provide for forcing the shale carrying cars under the hopper to receive a load of parallel shafts 41 and 42 provided with sprocket wheels 43 over which is passed a sprocket chain 44 having lugs 45 thereon designed to engage the sand seal troughs 25 of the shale carrying cars. This shaft 42 is driven by means of the large pulley 46 loosely mounted on the shaft and provided with a cone friction drive device 47, the friction cone being yieldingly held by a spring 48 in engagement with the pulley 46. By this arrangement it will be seen that a constant pressure is applied to the driving shaft 42, and if the shaft 42 cannot turn then the pulley may slip on the friction cone. preferably from a motor 50 or other source of power.

Located in the inclined track 40 adjacent to its lower end, is a lug 51, shown in Fig. 7 which lug serves the purpose of engaging the front Wheels ofa shale carrying car and elevating the entire car above the track far enough to permit the sand sealing member 26 to enter the trough 25 of the adjacent car. Then after the car passes over the lug 51 the sand seal device will remain ina sealed position throughout the rest of the travel of the car-through the apparatus.

For the purpose of holding all of the cars within the combustion chamber in position firmly against each other, and for preventing any of the cars from separating, I have provided at the discharge end thereof a device comprising two parallel shafts 52 and 53 provided with sprocket wheels 54, over which is passed a sprocket chain 55 having lugs 56 designed to engage the sand sealing troughs of the cars. This device is driven by means of a large sprocket wheel 57 on the shaft 53, connected by a sprocket chain 58 with a sprocket wheel 59 on the shaft 60, which shaft 60 is driven by a sprocket wheel 61 thereon, connected with a sprocket chain 62 which is driven in turn from a power shaft 63.

By this arrangement the movement of the shale bearing cars through the device is accurately timed, and if it is desired to have the cars move faster or slower, it may be regulated by changing the speed of the shaft 63 in any suitable manner.

Directly in the rear of the said retarding device is a refuse discharge hopper 64 arranged to discharge its contents upon a belt conveyor device 65 for removing the refuse to a suitable point of discharge. The track on which the shale bearing cars travel is curved downwardly directly above the hopper 63 at 66, and then upwardly over the inclined frame 67. This curve in the track at 66 provides means whereby the troughshaped portion of the sand seal on each car becomes automatically detached from the Said pulley is driven by a belt 49,

to cause the contents of each car to discharge into the hopper 64, the position of the car at this point being illustrated in Fig. 3.

For carrying the cars up the inclined frame 67, I have provided a sprocket chain 68 traveling over the sprocket wheels 69 and 70. The sprocket wheel 69 is loose on the shaft 63, and the sprocket wheel 70 is fixed to a shaft 71, which shaft is driven by a motor 72 through a belt and pulley device 73, running at a comparatively high speed, so that as soon as each car is discharged from the retarding device at the discharge end of the combustion chamber, it is immediately disconnected from the adjacent car and rapidly carried up the-incline. At the top of the incline the lug 71 is withdrawn from the car, and then the car is free to run down the incline by gravity. At a point some distance belogi the top of the incline 67 are the hinged track sections 74, which are moved upwardly out of the way by an ascending car, and then dropped by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 3, so that as soon as the car is released it will travel downwardly over the incline and then over the hinged track sections 74 upon the inclined track 75, which returns the car by ravity to the receiving end of the com ustion chamber.

For the purpose of permitting the returning car to'travel in a straight line, I have provided in the hopper 28 a recess or opening indicated by t and at the forward end of the inclined track e numeral 76 in Fig. 5,

75 is another hinged track section 77, norreturning car will run up the inclined track 40'to the spring bumper 79 and then return by gravity to the car ushing device for forcing the cars under t e shale containing hopper.

At the discharge end of the combustion and vapor chambers is a gas sealing device 80, similar to the gas sealing device shown Y in Fig. 12.

During the time that the shale is being subjected to heat it is desirable to keep it constantly stirred so that the vapors may readily arise from it. and for this purpose I have provided within the vapor chamber a series of cross pieces 81, each of which is provided with a number of uprights 82 secured thereto. On the lower end of each upright 82 is a shale stirring plow 83, designed to come close to the top surfaces of the car bodies 18 and to turn over and agitate the shale contained thereon, to free the vapors so that they will freely arise through the mass of shale, and so that the various articles will be turned under against the ot car body 18.

During the time that the shale is progressing through the combustion chamber, the vapor is assisted in separating from the shale, and decomposition of the oil vapors is prevented, if jets of steam are inserted, and for efiiciently applying steam to an apparatus of this kind I have provided a steamsupply pipe 84, and at certain intervals throughout the length of the combustion chamber are the transversely extended steam pipes 85 connected with the supply pipe 84:. Extended downwardly from the pipe 85 are the pipes 86, the lower ends of which are extended forwardly horizontally and are perforated on their under surfaces at 87. Above these perforations is a flat plate 88, ta ered from a maximum at its forward en toward the rear end. These plates 88 pass under the body of shale very close to the bottoms 18 of the shale carrying cars, and tend to scrapethe shale from the bottom, thus leaving a space. The steam enters this space and must then'move laterally under the plate 88 to the sides thereof, wh re: it will pass upwardly through the shale; as this is the-line of least resistance. In devices of this class heretofore, the vapors that arise from the shale have been conducted through suitable pipes to a con: denser. and there condensed into the form of crude oil, which later'has' .been again constituents, j

densed intheiof crude oil, but each of the :galuable i-g redients-of- .the*oil bearing .shale;"when it as been-released] from the or treatments.

For, accomplishing this purpose I' have .provideda combustion" chamber in which the heat is a plied principally at the dis then passes under all of the shalei'bearing cars to the flue. The fresh shale is admitted into the receiving end of the combustion chamber, and when heat is applied the more 65 volatile vapors arise "from the shale first. Then after the car has progressed through the combustion chamber to a certain extent, the shale becomes heated to a greater degree and certain other" vapors less volatile than the first arise from it, and so on;

I have provided for keeping these different vapors separated, as follows:

Arranged in the vapor chamber is a series of transverse partitions 89, each of which has at its lower end a gas sealing device 90 treated in lsuch manner as jto separate its I at the same time and into the first vapor chamber, thus assisting in the separation of 1 the various Va o'rs.

One of'i'the important advantages oflmy: improved apparatus-is that the vapors after: having once-been separated from theshale by heat, are-not.againcommingled"and con- 40 vided, and all of the valuable products of charge end 0 the combustion chamber, and.

similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 12, and at the top of each compartment thus formed in the combustion chamber is the vapor discharge pipe 91 leading to a condenser or suitable point of discharge. By means of this arrangement I have found that in the first chamber into which the shales are introduced, the vapor arising therefrom, when condensed, contains a large percentage of gasolene and is substantially free from lubricating oils, paraflin and the like. In the second chamber the vapors that arise therefrom, when condensed, form burning oils containing a large percentage of kerosene, but practically no lubricating oils or paraflin. Whereas, in the last chamber the vapors arising therefrom, when condensed, are composed principally of lubricating oils and parafiin. These various products, when thus separated, may be then purified into commercial form much more rapidly and less expensively than could be done if all of the vapor were condensed into the form of crude oil.

One of the advantages of my improved apparatus is that the oil bearing shales of the smallest or finest character may be of fectively treated. In fact, I prefer to reduce all of the shale to a size that willpass through an 'inch mesh screen, or even smaller 95 in some shales. Furthermore, by havin the shale arranged in a very thin layer 0 exactl uniform thickness, substantially all of t e light, volatile oils will pass out of it :By means 0 my improved device a con-. tmuousprocess of treating the shale is pro- 105 the shale may be removed from it in much 4 less time than is possible with any prior de-' Q shale, is vaporized and kepts'eparated from ;the other ingredients, thus dispensing in ay; largemeasure with I two separate processes has a very large capacity, and is substan- 1 0 tially automatic in its operation, except, of

course, for the operating 'motors- Practically all the attention that is required by an operator is the caring for the sand seals, which is attended to in the troughs 25 by an 116 operator just prior to the time when the cars are engaged by the lugs 45 on the car driving device.

' It is my purpose to utilize my machine for handling a great variety. of products having 12 hydro-carbon oils. For instance, I believe my machine could be used in connection with the handling of coal where coke is a by-product.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of inclosing Walls, the lower portion of the space between the walls comprising a combustion chamber, and the upper portion comprising a vapor chamber, a 130 series of material supporting cars arranged for movement in substantially horizontal planes between the combustion chamber and vices on the cars and the walls for prevent-' ing the passage of products of combustion upwardly past the cars, coacting sealing devices on the successive cars to prevent the passage of said products of combustion upwardly between the cars, and coacting means on the cars and the walls above the first described sealing devices for support ing the cars in their position between the walls. I 1 v 2. Inan apparatus of the class described,

I the combination of inclosing walls, the lower portion of the space between the walls comprising a combustion chamber, and'the upper portion comprising avapor chamber, a series of material supporting cars arranged for movement in substantially horizontal planes between the combustion chamber and the vapor chamber, and arranged to form a partition between said chambers, sealing devices on the cars and the walls for preventing the passage of products of combustion upwardly past the cars, coacting sealing devices on the successive cars to prevent the passage of said products upwardly between the cars, and coacting means onthe cars and the walls above the first described sealing devices for supporting the cars in their position between the walls, and vapor sealing devices between the cars and the side walls.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of inclosing walls, the lower portion of the spacebetween the wallscomprising a combustion chamber, and the upper portion a vapor chamber, a series of material supporting cars arranged for movement in a substantially horizontal plane between the walls, said cars being adapted to form a partition between the combustion chamber and the vapor chamber, partitions extending across the vapor chamber having sealing devices adapted to coact with the cars and the contents thereof at the lower ends of said partitions for dividing the vapor chamber into compartments, means for conducting vapor from the various compartments, and means for supplying maximum heat in the combustion chamber adjacent to the discharge end of the device, the heat supplying means being arranged to supply gradually reduced heat toward the intake end of the device, where by the incoming material is subjected to the minimum heat and the outgoing material to the maximum heat.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an inclosure member, the upper portion of which forms a vapor chamber and the lower portion a combustion chamber, a series of cars arranged to travel through said inclosure member between the combustion chamber and the vapor chamber, and coactlng means on the cars and the 1nclosure member for supporting the cars during such travel, and means for preventing the passage of products of combustion or vapors from the material in the cars to said supporting means. I

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an inclosure member having a combustion chamber at its lower portion and a vapor chamber at its upper portion, cars for carrying material through said inclosure member between the combustion and vapor chambers, a transverse partition in the vapor chamber for separating the vapor chamber into compartments, and means for forming a substantially vapor tight seal between said partition and the top of the layer of material being advanced through the apparatus, said means comprising material leveling devices adjacentto the partition, and a movable sealing member adapted to yieldingly engage the top of the layer of material beingdriven beneath the partition. 1

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an inclosure member having acombustion chamber at its lower portion and a vapor chamber at its upper portion, cars for carrying material through said inclosure member between the combustion and vapor chambers, a-"transverse partition in the vapor chamber for separating the vapor chamber into compartments, means for forming a substantially vapor tight seal between said partition and the top of the layer of material being advanced through the apparatus, said means comprising material leveling devices adjacent to the partition, and a movable sealing member adapted to yieldingly engage the top of the layer of material being driven beneath the partition and means for applying heat to the under side of the material conveying means and for applying a minimum of said heat to the material in the compartments at the intake end of the inclosure, and a maximum of heat to the compartment'at the discharge end of the inclosure.

7. In an apparatus of the class described,

an inclosure, a plurality of cars adapted to travel through said inclosure, and forming travel through said inclosure, and forming a partition between the upper and lower parts of the inclosure, for forming combustion and vapor chambers, means for forming a seal between the cars and the sides of the inclosure, means for forming a seal between the cars while they are traveling through the inclosure, said cars being opened at their ends, steam pipes projecting downwardly into the path of the material carried by said cars.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclosure, a series of cars adapted to travel through said inclosure, means for forming a seal between the successive cars, said means comprising a trough shaped member on each car and a downwardly projecting flange on the adjacent car adapted to enter said trough-shaped member, and a car elevating device designed to elevate one end of each car in a certain position of the cars travel, causing the flange thereon to enter the trough on the adjacent car.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an inclosure member, the upper portion of which forms a vapor chamber and the lower portion a combustion chamber, a series of cars arranged to travel through said inclosure member between the combustion chamber and the vapor chamber, and coacting means on the cars and the inclosure member for supporting the cars during such travel, and means for preventing thelpassagebf vapors from the material in the cars to said supporting means.

11. In an apparatus of the class described,

, the combination of an inclosure member, a

plurality of cars for carrying material through said inclosure member, and for dividing the inclosure member into an upper vapor chamber and a lower combustion chamber, said cars having open ends and having in their bottoms longitudinally arranged, spaced, upwardly extending ribs, agitating and steam supply members including supply pipes extending downwardly through the vapor chamber, and members at the lower end'of said supply pipe extending fowardly therefrom, whereby one of said last described members will raise the material between one pair of ribs during the progress of the cars, and permit said material to be dropped over the sides of said last described member, said last described member having steam discharge openings in said sides, whereby steam will be discharged in such a way as to subject all of the material to the action of such-steam.

12. In an apparatus of the class described;

the combination of inclosing walls, the lower portion of the space between the walls comprising a combustion chamber, and the upper portion comprising a vapor chamber; a series of material supporting cars arranged for movement in a substantially horizontal plane between the combustion chamber and the vapor chamber; sealing devices for forming joints between the successive cars,

and between the cars and the walls, whereby the cars themselves form a partition between said chambers, whereby heat may be applied directly to the under sides of the cars, and by radiation through the cars to the material in the cars.

Des Moines, Iowa, July 6, 1918.

' HALVER R. STRAIGHT.

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