GB240438A - Improvements in and relating to the purification and reclaiming of lubricating oil - Google Patents

Abstract

240,438. Aktiebolaget Separator, (Assignees of Boyd, F. R. C.). Sept. 26, 1924, [Convention date]. Recovering waste lubricants.-The continuous purification of oil circuiting in the lubricating system of an engine is effected by continuously cooling a portion of the oil to such a temperature that the impurities soluble in the oil are precipitated, and then removing this precipitate. Suspended matter is removed prior to the cooling or by continuous treatment of a separate portion of the hot oil. In the apparatus shown, oil is circuited continuously by a pump d from and to a reservoir c through a pipe e, a device f cooling the oil to about 100- 130‹ F., pipes g - - k, the bearings of a turbine a, and an electric genertor b, and pipes m, n, o. A portion of the oil is taken by a by-pass w to a super-cooler x in which the soluble impurities are precipitated at about 60-80‹ F. The oil and most of the precipitate pass by a pipe 10 to a centrifuge 11, from which purified oil returns to the reservoir through a filter 13 and a pipe 12. A portion of oil is also withdrawn continuously from the reservoir by a pipe p and treated while still hot, e.g. at 140-170‹ F., in a centrifuge t, the oil freed from suspended impurities passing to a tank u, a pipe v, and the reservoir c. The centrifuge 11, or the filter 13, or both may be dispensed with, the precipitated impurities being allowed to settle out, preferably in the cooler x. The centrifuge t may be dispensed with by leading the hot oil from the pipes p, s to the centrifuge 11. Or a portion of the oil cooled only sufficiently for return to the engine may be passed from the pipe h through a pipe 40 to a settling tank 41, the clean oil flowing by a pipe 42 to the filter 13 and pipe 12, the water and sediment by a pipe 43 to the centrifuge 11. The cooler x comprises a cylinder with a nest of externally cooled tubes between headers connected to the oil inlet and outlet pipes w, 10, hinged doors being fitted to the headers to facilitate cleaning. It may be replaced by a long tube in which cold water and cooled oil are injected together, the mixture passing to the centrifuge 11. A modified apparatus is shown in which the oil may be passed from the reservoir to the supercooler directly, or through a centrifuge, or through the usual cooler f. It may beremoved from the supercooler direct to the reservoir or the bearings, or through a centrifuge or a filter or both to the reservoir.