How William Burton Invented Modern Gasoline Refining

A 1913 patent by William Burton that describes a thermal cracking process to turn heavy crude oil into usable gasoline for automobiles.

What it covers

The patent describes a method for increasing the yield of gasoline from crude oil by heating heavy oil fractions under pressure. By applying heat and pressure in a closed vessel, the process breaks down larger, heavier hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, lighter ones suitable for internal combustion engines. This thermal cracking process allowed refiners to extract significantly more fuel from every barrel of oil compared to simple distillation.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover catalytic cracking, which uses chemical catalysts to speed up the reaction.
• —Does not cover modern hydrocracking techniques that use hydrogen gas to improve fuel quality.
• —Does not cover the extraction of crude oil from the ground.
• —Does not cover the design of the internal combustion engines that consume the gasoline.

The clever bit

Burton realized that by keeping the oil under pressure while heating it, he could prevent the liquid from boiling away too quickly, forcing the heavy molecules to break apart rather than just vaporizing.

Why it matters

This invention was critical to the growth of the early automotive industry. Before this process, gasoline was a byproduct of kerosene production and was often discarded; Burton's method turned it into a primary, high-value product that fueled the mass adoption of the car.

Real-world examples

• 1.Early 20th-century oil refineries
• 2.Standard Oil production facilities
• 3.Gasoline supply chains for Model T automobiles