US2061666A - Oil purifier - Google Patents

Description

Nav.. 24, 1936.

J. R. MILLER OIL PURIFIER original Filed Jan. 2, 1931 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES OIL PURIFIER James R. Miller, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Bocjl Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.. a corporation of Delaware Application January 2, 1931, Serial No. 506,169

Renewed January 12, 1934 s claims. (o1. 19e-'16) My invention relates to oil purifiers and particularly to apparatus for purifying or renovating crank-case oil of motor vehicles.

An object of my invention is to provide an oil purifier that is of such simple and inexpensive construction that it isfcapable of extended use by owners of relatively small numbers of vehicles or owners of garages.

A further object of my invention isto provide A v an oil purifier of few and' simple moving parts vwhereby, its operation is attended with relatively little wear and the replacement or rep-air of such parts is reduced to a minimum.

A still further object of my invention is to 1'5 provide an oil purifier that has improved einciency'and operation and which produces an improved product.

Heretofore devices of the same general character as that of my invention have been so cornplicated and expensive in construction that their field has been limited to owners or operators of relatively large fleets of trucks or automobiles. The initial investment of such devices has been so high that the savings effectedby its use must be relatively large. g

The oil purifier of my invention is of such simplicityand the number of parts has been soreduced that it may be -constructedat a cost that will render it available to the Yoperator of a relatively small number of trucks orautomobiles and which is sufliciently simplein operation to permit it to be operated by relatively unskilled labor.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of. an'oil V purifier constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of a modication.

An upright cylindrical metal tank l is prolvided with a removable top or cover 2 that is secured thereon by bolts 3. The body of the tank I and the cover 2 each have a jacket 4 of asbestosor other suitable heat-insulating material and an outer steel'coverlng 5 for protecting the Jacket 4.

Substantially the lower half of the tank I is surrounded by an electric heating element (i that `is electrically insulated from the tank I and the covering 5. The heating element 6 is connected to any suitable source of current (not shown).

A thermostat 1 automatically controls the maximum temperature of the contents of the tank to prevent overheating.

A vertical shaft 8, which extends centrally of the tank I, has a lower outboard bearing 9 and an upper outboard bearing I0. The bearings 9 and Ill are Supported by a framework VII thatA is secured to and removable with the cover 2.

The shaft 8 is connected through a universal .joint I2 and a short shaft I3 to an electric mo- 5 toi` I4 mounted on the upper end of a gas-tight cylindrical casing I5. The Shaft I3 extends through an aperture I6`in the cover 2 and a stuiling box I1 in the casing I5 and is connected to the motor shaft by means of a coupling I8. 10 The shaft 8 is provided at its lower end with an agitating device in the form of a propeller I9 for the purpose of.-producing a turbulent agita'- tion of the oil and preventing the deposition of sediment in the bottom o-f the tank. l5

The shaft 8 is also provided with a spiral lin 20 which serves to actuate a streamer oil upward around the shaft and fin and which is thrown outward at the end of the spiral iin in the form of spray, as indicated at 2|, to facili- 20 tate the escape of. vapors from the oil.

A fan 22 is mounted on the'shaft I3 within the casing l5 andabove the aperture I6. 'Ihe fan 22 draws vapors upwardly through the aperture I6 `and forces them to ow through an out- 25 let pipe 23 into a condenser 24. The cover 2 is provided with an inner circular flange 25 for preventing the escape of vapors between the cover 2 and the tank.

The cover 2 is provided with an air inlet pipe 30 26 and an inlet Vfor oil to be treated comprising a funnel 21 and a pipe 28 having a valve 29. The bottom of the tank is provided with an outlet pipe 30 having a valve 3l and that is conne'cted to a gear pump 32 and a lter press 33. 35

The apparatus of Fig. 2 differs from that of. Fig. 1 in that the cover 2 is provided with a larger central aperture 35 which is of substantially the same diameter as that of the casing I5. A cylindrical casing 36 is suspended from the cover and 40 is provided with a central opening 31, through which extends a shaft 38 that replaces the shaft I3 of Fig. l. The fan 22 is mounted on the shaft 33 within the casing 36. In other respects, the apparatus of Fig. 2 is substantially similar to that 45 of. Fig. l.

In the operation of the purifier, oil to be treated is poured in at the top by means of the funnel 21 until'the tank is filled to ay desired level, as indicated in the drawing. The tank is 50 ordinarily adapted to receive from ve-to ten gallons of oil. i

A suitable quantity of clay or fullers earth is iadded for the purpose of absorbing tarry constituents of the oil and the valve 29 is closed. 55

The clay or fullers earth may, however, be added later, if desired.

The tank is then heated to raise the temperature of the oil to between.350 F. and 450 depending upon the character of the oil being treated and the degree to which the lighter or more volatile constituents are to be removed. The thermostat 'I may be adjustable or designed for the maximum temperature desired.

The motor I4 is in operation during the heating of the oil. The propeller I9 actuates oil .downwardly against `the bottom to prevent the deposition of sediment and to keep the fullers earth or clay in suspension. The spiral n 20 produces oil spray to increase the surface exposure of the oil and the liberation of vapors of the volatile elements.

The fan 22 withdraws air and vapors upwardly through the aperture I6 into the casing I5 and forcesv them out through the pipe 23. Air flows in through the air yinlet pipe 26' adjacent the surface of the oil and the circulation of air thus caused by the fan 22 assists'in the liberation of vapors of gasoline and other volatile in. gredients.

The condenser 24, vwhich may be of any suitable or usual type, collects the liquid resulting from the condensible vapors and which flows out through a pipe 40. The non-condensible vapors and gases escape through 4a pipe 4I.

When the oil has been sufficiently treated, the

valve 3| is opened and the gear pump 32 is operated to withdraw the oil from the tank I and force it through the lter press 33. All sediment and solid material are removed fr'om the oil and the latter thus entirely puried and renovated is collected at the pipe 42.A

The purified oil is now in condition for the same uses for which it was suitable in'its.l original state. In fact, the treated oil may have "an even higher viscosity than that of the original oil.

The purifier may be relled after the treated oil is withdrawn and the operation repeated as often as desired.

My improved purifier operates simply and eiliciently to 'remove undesirable ingredients of used crank-case oil or oil employed for similar purposes and to restore it to at least its original state of purity and viscosity. The apparatus is extremely simple and may be operated with entire safety by relatively unskilled labor.

It is possible that similar results may be obtained by modifications of the apparatus of my invention. For example, the vertical shaft and spiral fm may be replaced by other forms of. agitating devices, such, for example, as propeller blades or a. hollow shaft with internal grooves without departing from the scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not limit my invention to the precise embodiment shown and described other than as expressed in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An oil purifier comprising a tank for oil adapted to be filled to an intermediate level, means for heating said oi-l, a vertical shaft in said tank, an agitator for said oil mounted on said shaft, means for supplying air adjacent to the surface of said oil, an impeller for vapor on said shaft above the level of the oil and means for driving said shaft.

2. An oil purifier comprising an upright container for oil to a desired level, a Vertical shaft having means thereonv for forcing oil upward to form a spray above the levelthereof, means for supplying air adjacent to the surface of said oil, an impeller on said shaft above said oil, and a motor on said tank for driving said shaft.

3. An oil purifier comprising a tank adapted to be partially filled with oil, an inlet for oil, an inlet for supplying air for circulation adjacent to the surface of the oil, a vertical shaft in said tank having means for agitating said oil, a fan on said shaft for causing a circulation of air through said tank above the oil and for withdrawing air and vapors from said tank, and means for actuating said shaft and said fan.

JAMES R. MILLER.

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