IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE CAPACITY OF CASKS AND OTHER VESSELS, THE ALCOHOLIC STRENGTH OF SPIRITS, AND THE WEIGHT, VOLUME, AND DENSITY OF LIQUIDS GENERALLY
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of " IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE CAPACITY OF CASKS AND OTHER
VESSELS, THE ALCOHOLIC STRENGTH OF SPIRITS, AND THE WEIGHT,
VOLUME, AND DENSITY OF LIQUIDS GENERALLY." A communication from
abroad by Théophile Sourbé, of Bordeaux, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE CAPACITY OF
CASKS AND OTHER VESSELS, THE ALCOHOLIC STRENGTH OF SPIRITS, AND THE
WEIGHT, VOLUME, AND DENSITY OF LIQUIDS GENERALLY." [A communication
from abroad by Théophile Sourbé, of Bordeaux, France.]
This Invention relates to apparatus for ascertaining with accuracy, (1) the
capacity of casks or other receptacles; (2) the alcoholic strength of brandies and
other spirits without the use of an alcoholometer; and (3) the weight, volume, and
density of liquids generally.
The apparatus of this Invention is intended to supersede the use of densimeters,
volumeters, alcoholometers, and other like instruments, which are liable to error.
With this apparatus, the causes of error being entirely prevented, or at least
considerably reduced, it is possible to determine with a much greater degree of
precision the density and volume of liquids in general, and also the apparent or
indicated and real strength of spirituous liquors.
The apparatus consists of a balance on the principle of the steelyard, for
example, graduated in 100ths, but modified by the substitution for the ordinary
counterpoise or weight scale pan of a suitable vessel, so as to permit the employment
in lieu of weights of a liquid of the same kind as that of which it is desired to
determine the volume, density, &c. By this substitution, which is the fundamental
feature of the Invention, great accuracy is obtainable, for if the balance be

page_text: graduated in 100ths, for example, 1 litre of liquid will balance 100 litres of the
same liquid on the scale pan or platform, and as both liquids have the same density
and temperature, the error, if any, can only be due to the weighing instrument
itself.
In order to ascertain the exact volume of liquid placed on the scale pan or
platform it is only necessary to know that of the portion of the same liquid 100
times less which balances it. The determination of this small volume can give rise
to but very trifling errors, which even when multiplied 100 fold on the platform
or scale pan would still be inappreciable.
I will now describe the vessels to be employed by preference in carrying out the
Invention.
.
The first is a densi-volumeter and is represented in Figure 1 of the accom-
panying Drawing. It is open at top when used for liquids which do not rapidly
evaporate, but when used for volatile liquids or spirits it should be provided with
a removable or fixed cover and furnished with a funnel and cock. The vessel may
be of cylindrical, square, oval, or other form, and of a capacity proportionate to the
size of the weighing instrument; the round form is, however, preferable, being
stronger, more easily graduated, more readily cleansed, and cheaper to make of
copper or tin plate. This vessel is suspended by a bail at the end of the scale
beam, and the bottom of the vessel is made conical to facilitate the rapid discharge
of the contents and is provided with a cock. Any kind of vessel with or without
a discharge cock suspended from the scale beam would answer, the Invention
including the employment of any vessel suspended as above for the purpose
specified.
I will proceed to describe the apparatus in detail, first remarking that the several
parts hereafter referred to may be either wholly or partially dispensed with
according to requirements and the kind of weighing machine used.
The vessel represented in the Drawing provided with all the necessary fittings
is intended for use in the complicated operations of alcoholometry, but although
not all indispensable even in this case they are very convenient. The vessel is
provided with a graduated scale a extending from top to bottom, and with a gauge
glass b communicating with the interior, whereby the level and volume of liquid
contained may be read off. The apparatus, when intended to be applied to weighing
machines graduated in 100ths, as is preferable, should be of a capacity 100 times
less than that of the largest vessels which are rolled onto the platform for the
purpose of determining the volume or density or both of the liquid contained. The
apparatus is also provided with a centigrade thermometer c and a movable scale d,
for correcting the indications and giving at one side the apparent or indicated
alcoholic strength and at the other the real strength at the normal or standard
temperature (15° C.). The scale d is graduated at either side of the opening and
is similar to that usually supplied by instrument makers for the use of dealers in
alcohol, and it enables one to dispense with Gay Lussac's correction tables used
with the centigrade alcoholometer. The balance is also provided with a litre or
other measure, which should also be made of a metal suited to the liquids under
observation, preferably copper if the liquids are non-corrosive. This measure has
a handle e, a neck closed by a cock f, and a funnel mouth g. Any other form of
measure may, however, be employed, although that shown is preferred, inasmuch
. as the outlet being small and provided with a cock a litre of liquid can be quickly
measured without liability of error. The funnel also facilitates filling with liquid,
and having a lip its contents may be readily poured into another vessel; it further
serves to hold the liquid, which may rise up from the measure by expansion when
the cock is left open.
When the measure is employed for the purpose of a densi-
volumeter the funnel receives weights or water for taring the balance if the
counterweight is insufficient. The funnel has a bail h for attachment to the end of
the scale beam in lieu of the densi-volumeter in. certain operations. The measure
may be placed over a small lamp i or other heater for heating the measure and its
contents when desired.
".

page_text: The apparatus is capable of many applications, among which may be mentioned
its use for the determination and graduation layer by layer of the contents of a
vat. For determining by means of water the capacity of casks intended to contain
valuable liquids, and thus avoid the evaporation of such liquids during the operations
of weighing and measuring.
For determining in the case of a cask of brandy, (1) its capacity; (2) the weight
of liquid which exactly fills it; (3) the density of the liquid; (4) its apparent or
indicated strength; (5) its real strength; (6) the volume of the liquid at the
normal or standard temperature (15° C., for instance).
(1.) Determination of Capacity.-I proceed as above mentioned when determining
the capacity by means of water, that is to say, I first empty the cask of brandy
for the purpose of taring the cask, which is afterwards exactly filled again with
brandy. As it would be difficult in this case to obtain a liquid of the same density,
nature, and temperature, it is indispensable to draw off a portion of the brandy
from the cask in order to charge the densi-volumeter. For this purpose a syphon
is introduced into the cask when placed upon the platform of the scale, care being
taken not to spill the liquid with which the litre measure (Figure 2) is filled, the
cock being shut when full, and any excess contained in the funnel mouth returned
to the cask. The contents of the measure are then emptied into the densi-volumeter,
and 1 litre is reckoned. The same operation is then repeated for a second and
third litre until the last one, which is more than sufficient to balance the cask,
and which is poured very slowly into the densi-volumeter until a perfect equilibrium
is obtained, the surplus liquid of this last litre remaining in the measure. The
volume of liquid contained in the densi-volumeter is read off as in the preceding
example; and supposing it to be 4.25 litres, the volume of liquid which remains in
the cask is 4.25 litres x 100 = 425 litres. As regards the capacity of the cask, it
is evidently equal to the volume of liquid left in it plus the volume of liquid
withdrawn for the purpose of filling the densi-volumeter, and assuming this to be
5 litres (being the liquid contained therein and that left in the measure), the
capacity of the cask would be 425 +5 = 430 litres.
(2.) To find the Weight of a Liquid contained in a Full Cask.-The cask is first
refilled by returning to it the liquid previously withdrawn. It will be remembered
that the tare of the cask was obtained at the beginning of the operation. It now
only remains to weigh the whole in the ordinary way, except that the weights are
placed in or on the densi-volumeter itself which may have hooks to receive them.
After weighing there only remains to substract the tare from the gross weight in
order to obtain the net weight of the liquid.
(3.) To find the Density of the Liquid.-The volume and weight of the liquid
being both known, it is easy to determine its density at the time of the operation.
Multiplying the volume by 100 and dividing the product by the weight will give
the weight of 100 litres, and that of 1 litre by dividing this quotient by 100.
(4.) To find the Apparent Strength.-It is easy after determining the weight of
100 litres of liquid or its density in the way above described to find its apparent
strength by consulting comparative tables of the metrical weight and volume of
spirituous liquors supplied with each apparatus.
(5.) To find the Real Strength.-The thermometer with which the apparrtus is
furnished gives the temperature, and the apparent strength being also known, the
correction tables of Gay Lussac will give the real strength. The same result may
also be obtained with the aid of the movable scale upon the densi-volumeter,
which shows on the one side the apparent and on the other the real strength.
(6.) To find the Real Volume of the Liquid at the Normal Temperature of 15° C.-
This will be found in tables for correction of volume, but independently of this, by
means of the densi-volumetric balance of this Invention, the volume and weight
.of liquids generally may be ascertained at any temperature taken as a standard.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th October 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE CAPACITY OF
CASKS AND OTHER VESSELS, THE ALCOHOLIC STRENGTH OF SPIRITS, AND THE
WEIGHT, VOLUME, AND DENSITY OF LIQUIDS GENERALLY." A communication
from abroad by Theophile Sourbé, of Bordeaux, France.
This Invention relates to apparatus for ascertaining with accuracy (1) the capacity
of casks or other receptacles; (2) the alcoholic strength of brandies and other
spirits without the use of an alcoholometer; and (3) the weight, volume, and density
of liquids generally.
The apparatus of this Invention is intended to supersede the use of densimeters,
volumeters, alcoholometers, and other like instruments which are liable to error.
With this apparatus the causes of error are entirely prevented, or at least considerably
reduced, and it is therefore possible to determine with a much greater degree of
precision the density and volume of liquids in general, and also the apparent or
indicated and real strength of spirituous liquors.
The apparatus of this Invention is denominated a densivolumetric balance (which
name it derives from those of the instruments it is intended to supersede, viz., the
balance, the densimeter, and the volumeter), and it consists of a suitable balance,
one on the principle of the steelyard, for example, but modified according to this
Invention by the substitution for the ordinary slider or weight scale pan of a
suitable vessel so as to permit the employment in lieu of weights of a liquid of the
same kind as that of which it is desired to determine the volume, density, &c. By
this substitution, which is the fundamental feature of the Invention, great accuracy
is obtainable, for if the balance be proportioned accordingly, 1 litre of liquid
contained in the said vessel will equipoise 100 litres of the same liquid placed on
the scale pan or platform upon the other arm of the balance; and as both liquids
have the same density and temperature, the error, if any, can only be due to the
weighing instrument itself, and not to the balance weights employed. In order
therefore to ascertain the exact volume of the liquid placed on the scale pan or
platform, it is only necessary to know that of the one hundredth part of the same
liquid which balances it. The determination of this small volume can give rise to
but very insignificant errors, which even when multiplied a hundred fold for the
liquid on the platform or scale pan would still be inappreciable.
I will now describe the vessels to be employed by preference in carrying out the
Invention.
The vessel which I will describe first is denominated a densi-volumeter, and is
represented in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing. It is open at top when
used for liquids which do not rapidly evaporate, but when used for volatile liquids
or spirits it should be provided with a removable or fixed cover, and furnished
with a funnel and cock. The vessel may be of cylindrical, square, oval, or other
form according to requirements and according to the kind of weighing instrument
with which it is to be used, and of a capacity proportional to the weighing
instrument; the round form is however preferable, being stronger, more easily
graduated, more readily cleansed, and cheaper to make, of copper or tin plate.
This vessel or densivolumeter, which is made of a metal not acted on by the liquid
to be tested, is suspended by a bail at the end of the scale beam, and the bottom of

page_text: the vessel is made conical to facilitate the rapid discharge of the whole of its
contents, and is provided with a draw off cock. Any kind of vessel with or without
a discharge cock suspended from the scale beam would answer the purpose of a
densivolumeter, the Invention including the employment of any vessel suspended
as and for the purpose specified.
I will proceed to describe the vessel in detail, first remarking that the several
appurtenances hereafter referred to may be either wholly or partially dispensed
with according to requirements and the kind of weighing machine used. The
vessel represented In Figure 1 of the Drawing with all its appurtenances is intended
for use in the complicated operations of alcoholometry, but although all of the latter
are not indispensable even for this purpose, they are very convenient. The vessel
is provided with a graduated scale a and gauge glass b extending the whole height
of the vessel, and the latter communicating at top and bottom with the interior of
the vessel, whereby the level and volume of liquid contained may be read off. The
densivolumeter when intended to be applied to weighing machines so proportioned
that a counterweight of 1 lb. will equipoise 100 lbs. on the scale pan, as is preferable,
should be of a capacity 100 times less than that of the largest vessels containing
the liquid whose volume or density (or both) is to be ascertained, and which
vessels are rolled onto the platform of the weighing machine for the purpose. The
vessel is also provided with a centigrade thermometer c and a movable scale d for
correcting the indications and giving at one side the apparent or indicated alcoholic
strength, and at the other the real strength at the normal or standard tempe-
rature (15° C.) The scale d is graduated at either side of the opening and is
similar to that usually supplied by instrument makers for the use of dealers in
alcohol, and it enables one to dispense with Gay Lussac's correction tables used
with the centigrade alcoholometer. Another vessel to be also used is represented
in Figure 2, and consists of a litre or other measure which should also be made of
a metal suited to the liquids under observation, preferably copper if the liquids are
non-corrosive. This vessel has a handle e, a neck closed by a stopcock f, and a
funnel mouth g. Any other form of measure may however be employed although
that shown is preferred, inasmuch as the neck being small and provided with a
cock, a litre of liquid can be quickly measured without liability of error. The
funnel also facilitates the filling of the measure with liquid, and having a lip its
contents may be readily poured into another vessel; it further serves to hold the
liquid which may rise up from the measure by expansion when the cock is left
open. When the measure is employed for the purpose of a densivolumeter the
funnel receives weights or water for taring the balance if the counterweight is
insufficient. The funnel has a bail h for attachment to the end of the scale beam in
lieu of the densi-volumeter in certain operations. The measure may be placed on
a stand i over a small lamp, a gas flame, or other heater for heating the measuro
and its contents when desired.
The apparatus is capable of many applications, among which may be mentioned
its use for the determination of the capacity of a vat or other receptacle at different
portions of its height, and its graduation or division into superposed layers of equal
volume, for determining with water the capacity of casks intended to contain
valuable liquids (and thus avoid the evaporation of such liquids during the
operations of weighing and measuring) by weighing the full cask against a portion
of the same water at the same temperature, and ascertaining the volume of the
latter which balances it as herein described; for determining in the case of a cask
of brandy (1) its capacity, (2) the weight of liquid which exactly fills it, (3) the
density of this liquid, (4) its apparent or indicated strength, (5) its real strength,
(6) the real volume of the liquid at the normal or standard temperature (15° C., for
instance.)
(1.) Determination of Capacity.-I proceed as when determining the capacity by
means of water, that is to say, I first empty the cask of brandy for the purpose of
taring the cask, and afterwards exactly fill it again with brandy. As it would be

page_text: difficult in this case to obtain a liquid of the same density, nature, and temperature
it is indispensable to draw off a portion of the brandy from the cask in order to
charge the densivolumeter. For this purpose a syphon is introduced into the cask
when placed upon the platform of the scale, care being taken not to spill the liquid
with which the litre measure (Figure 2) is filled, the cock being shut when full,
and any excess contained in the funnel mouth returned to the cask. The contents
of the measure are then emptied into the densivolumeter, and 1 litre is reckoned.
The same operation is then repeated for a second and third litre until I come to
the last one, which is more than sufficient to counterbalance the cask, and which is
poured very slowly into the densi-volumeter until a perfect equilibrium is obtained,
the surplus liquid of this last litre remaining in the measure. The volume of liquid
contained in the densi-volumeter is read off on the scale, and supposing it to be
4.25 liters the volume of liquid which remains in the cask is 4.25 litres x 100 = 425
litres. As regards the capacity of the cask it is evidently equal to the volome' of
liquid left in it plus the volume of liquid withdrawn for the purpose of filling the
densi-volumeter, and assuming this to be 5 litres (being the liquid contained
therein, and that left in the measure) the capacity of the cask would be 425 + 5 =
430 litres.
(2.) To Find the Weight of the Liquid contained in the Full Cask.-This cask is
first refilled by returning to it the liquid previously withdrawn. It will be
remembered that the tare of the cask was obtained at the beginning of the
operation, and it therefore now only remains to weigh the whole in the ordinary
way except that the weights are placed in or on the densi-volumeter itself, which
may have hooks upon its outside to receive them. After weighing there only
remains to subtract the tare from the gross weight in order to obtain the net
weight of the liquid.
(3.) To Find the Density of the Liquid.-The volume and weight of the
liquid being both known it is easy to determine its density at the time of the
operation, multiplying the volume by 100 and dividing the product by the weight
will give the weight of 100 litres, and that of 1 litre by dividing this quotient
by 100.
(4.) To Find the Apparent Strength.-It is easy after determining the weight of
100 litres of liquid or its density in the way above described to find its apparent
strength by consulting the comparative tables of the metrical weight and volume
of spirituous liquors published by Feret et fils, of Bordeaux, and supplied with
each apparatus, the apparent strength being given opposite the column of weights
in the supplement of this work.
(5.) To Find the Real Strength.-The thermometer with which the apparatus is
furnished gives the temperature of the liquid, and the apparent strength being also
known, the correction tables of Gay Lussac will give the real strength. The same
result may also be obtained with the aid of the movable correction scale upon the
densi-volumeter, which shows on the one side the apparent and on the other the
real strength.
-
(6.) To Find the Real Volume of the Liquid at the Normal Temperature of 15° C.-
This may be found by consulting tables for correction of volume given at p.p. 40
and 47 of my foreign correspondent's work on the weighing of liquids published by
Feret et fils, of Bordeaux, but independently of these tables the volume and weight
of liquids generally may be ascertained at any temperature taken as a standard by
means of the densi-volumetric balance of this Invention.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The employment in combination of the apparatus herein before described, and
particularly the employment as a counterweight in apparatus for weighing liquids
in lieu of solid counterweights, of a liquid contained in a vessel of known capacity
attached to the scalebeam, substantially as specified.

page_text: 2. The particular construction of the vessels provided with their appurtenances,
substantially as represented in the Drawings for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fourteenth day of October, A.D. 1881.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)