BAIRD &TATLOCK (LONDON) LTD. 



Abel's Petroleum Test Apparatus, Nos. 4993-4994. 

 METHOD OF MANIPULATION. 



PETROLEUM ACT, 1879 (42 & 43 Viet., c. 47). 

 Mode of testing petroleum so as to ascertain the temperature at which it will give off inflammable vapour. 



The test apparatus should be placed for use in a position where it is not exposed to currents of air or draughts. 



The heating vessel or water bath is filled by pouring water into the funnel until it begins to flow out at the 

 spout of the vessel. The temperature of the water at the commencement of the test is to be 130 F., and this is 

 attained in the first instance either by mixing hot and cold water in the bath, or in a vessel from which the bath is 

 filled, until the thermometer which is provided for testing the temperature of the water gives the proper indication ; 

 or by heating the water with the spirit lamp (which is attached to the stand of the apparatus) until the required 

 temperature is indicated. 



If the water has been heated too highly, it is easily reduced to 130 degrees by pouring in cold water little by 

 little (to replace a portion of the warm water) until the thermometer gives the proper reading. 



When a test has been completed this water bath is again raised to 130 degrees by placing the lamp under- 

 neath, and the result is readily obtained while the petroleum cup is being emptied, cooled, and refilled with a fresh 

 supply to be tested. The lamp is then turned on its swivel from under the apparatus, and the next is proceeded 

 with. 



The test lamp is prepared for use by fitting it with a piece of flat plaited candle-wick* and filling it up with 

 colza or rape oil up to the lower edge of the opening of the spout or wick tube. 



The lamp is trimmed so that when lighted it gives a flame of about 0.15 of an inch in diameter, and this size 

 of flame is readily maintained by simple manipulation from time to time with a small wire trimmer. 



When gas is available it may be conveniently used in place of the little oil lamp, and for this purpose a test 

 flame arrangement for use with gas has been devised, which may be substituted for the lamp. 



The bath having been raised to the proper temperature, the oil to be tested is introduced into the petroleum 

 cup, being poured in slowly until the level of the liquid just reaches the point of the gauge which is fixed in the 

 cup. In warm weather the temperature of the room in which the samples to be tested have been kept should be 

 observed in the first instance, and if it exceeds 65 degrees, the samples to be tested should be cooled down (to about 

 60 degrees) by immersing the bottles containing them in cold water, or by any other convenient method. 



The lid of the cup, with the slide closed, is then put on, and the cup is placed into the bath or heating vessel. 

 The thermometer in the lid of the cup has been adjusted so as to have its bulb just immersed in the liquid, and 

 its position is not under any circumstances to be altered. 



When the cup has been placed in a proper position, the scale of the thermometer faces the operator. 



The test lamp is then placed in position upon the lid of the cup, the lead line or pendulum which has been 

 fixed in a convenient position in front of the operator is set in motion, and the rise of the thermometer in the 

 petroleum cup is watched. 



When the temperature has reached about 66 degrees the operation of testing is to be commenced, the test 

 flame being applied once for every rise of one degree in the following manner : - 



The slide is slowly drawn open while the pendulum performs three oscillations, and is closed during the fourth 

 oscillation. 



NOTE. If it is desired to employ the test apparatus to determine the flashing points of oils of very low volatility, 

 the mode of proceeding is to be modified as follows : 



The air chamber which surrounds the cup is filled with cold water, to a depth of i J in., and the heating vessel 

 or water bath is filled as usual, but also with cold water. The lamp is then placed under the apparatus and kept 

 there during the entire operation. If a heavy oil is being dealt with, the operation may be commenced with 

 water previously heated to 120 degrees instead of with cold water. 



* The description of the wick known as Field's night-light candle-wick has been found most suitable. 





CROSS STREET HATTCm GARDEN, E-C 



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