On 6 January 1913, US Patent No. 1,049,667 was granted to William M. Burton for “Manufacture of gasolene”.
Burton went after the heavy, high boiling residue left after distillation and used heat under pressure to crack it into lighter fractions. By managing the vapor and condensation cycle, he could convert more of what used to be low value bottoms into gasoline range material.
A reminder that some of the most consequential inventions are process innovations that quietly reshape an entire industry.
| Country | Kind | No. | Published | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Patent | 1,049,667 | 07.01.1970 | Wind-propelled apparatus |
Last updated on 18 February 2026