Laboratory flash still for heavy oils

Claim 1

A CONTINUOUS EQUILIBRIUM FLASH STILL FOR THE FLASHING OF A PETROLEUM FRACTION WHICH COMPRISES A PREHEAT ZONE AND A FLASH ZONE, AND ENCLOSED MERCURY VAPOR CIRCULATING SYSTEM CONNECTED TO SAID FLASH ZONE HAVING MERCURY WELL AND A MERCURY VAPOR CHAMBER EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID MERCURY WELL INTO SAID FLASH ZONE, SAID MERCURY VAPOR CHAMBER BEING ANNULAR IN FORM AND COMPLETELY DIVIDING SAID FLASH ZONE INTO AN INTERIOR CENTRAL SECTION AND AN EXTERIOR ANNULAR SECTION, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE MERCURY AT A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE INCLUDING A MAKE-BREAK MANOMETER CONNECTED TO AND IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID MERCURY WELL AT ONE END AND OPEN TO THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE OTHER END, AND HEATING ELEMENT IMMERSED IN SAID MERCURY AND CONTROLLED BY SAID MAKE-BREAK MANOMETER FOR SUPPLYING THE NECESSARY HEAT TO SAID MERCURY, A CHARGE PIPE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID PREHEAT ZONE INTO SAID INTERIOR CENTRAL SECTION OF SAID FLASH ZONE FOR DELIVERING THE PETROLEUM FRACTION THERETO FOR FLASHING, MEANS FOR REMOVING THE LIGHT ENDS PRODUCT FROM THE FLASH ZONE, AND MEANS FOR REMOVING THE HEAVY ENDS PRODUCT FROM THE FLASH ZONE.