# 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. - **Patent:** US 1049667 - **Original title:** Manufacture of gasolene. - **Owner:** Standard Oil Co - **Granted:** 1913 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 2 - **Field:** energy, mechanical, materials ## What it does 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 does NOT 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Early 20th-century oil refineries 2. Standard Oil production facilities 3. Gasoline supply chains for Model T automobiles ## 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. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How William Burton Invented Modern Gasoline Refining cover? A 1913 patent by William Burton that describes a thermal cracking process to turn heavy crude oil into usable gasoline for automobiles. ### Who owns patent US 1049667? Standard Oil Co owns this patent, granted in 1913. ### When does this patent expire? This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely. ### What is patent US 1049667 cited by? This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? 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. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover catalytic cracking, which uses chemical catalysts to speed up the reaction. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1049667/petroleum-cracking-burton **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US1049667 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How William Coolidge Invented the Modern X-Ray Tube](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1203495/coolidge-x-ray-tube) — A 1916 patent by William Coolidge for a high-vacuum X-ray tube that used a heated tungsten filament to control electron flow, replacing older, unreliable gas-filled tubes. - [How Ole Evinrude Invented the Modern Portable Outboard Motor](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1001260/outboard-motor-evinrude) — A 1911 patent for a compact, detachable marine engine that allowed small boats to be powered by a portable, gasoline-driven propeller unit. - [How Leo Baekeland Invented Bakelite, the First Synthetic Plastic](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/942699/bakelite-synthetic-plastic) — A 1909 patent for creating a durable, heat-resistant material by reacting phenol and formaldehyde, marking the birth of the modern plastics industry. - [How Glass Fibers Are Spun for Insulation](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2133235/fiberglass-glass-wool-slayter) — A 1933 invention by Games Slayter that describes the process of melting glass and blasting it into fine, flexible fibers to create insulation. - [How Eugene Houdry Invented the Modern Catalytic Converter](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2742437/catalytic-converter-houdry) — A 1952 patent for a durable, thin-film catalyst structure that allows gases to flow freely over reactive surfaces, forming the foundation for modern vehicle exhaust systems.