IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND PURIFYING SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE PURIFICATION OF OTHER VOLATILE FLUIDS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Johann Falkman, of St. Petersburg, in the
Empire of Russia, but now residing at the Craven Hotel, Craven Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND PURIFYING SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE PURIFICATION OF OTHER VOLATILE FLUIDS."
Sealed the 24th January 1865, and dated the 29th November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Johann Falkman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th November 1864..
I, CARL JOHANN FALKMAN, of St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia,
but now residing at the Craven Hotel, Craven Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND PURIFYING SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE PURIFICATION OF OTHER VOLATILE FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to that part of apparatus for distilling spirituous
liquors in which the alcoholic or spirituous vapours, after separation from the
wash, are purified from fusel oils and separated from the watery particles
contained therein.
My Invention consists in constructing apparatus in which such vapours are
caused to permeate in a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction through an
extended bed or stratumn of animal or other charcoal, or other suitable
purifying medium, so arranged inside a closed receptacle or chamber of con-

page_text: siderable length, that the fusel liquor and watery particles absorbed by the
purifying medium from the alcoholic vapour shall be rapidly condensed
thereby, and caused to pass away in a downward direction from among the
purifying medium. By this arrangement the great advantage is gained of
obtaining the continuous purifying action of the entire bed of charcoal upon
the whole volume of the alcoholic vapours, whilst the fusel liquor and watery
particles, as fast as they are separated therefrom, are conducted away from the
apparatus without having for this purpose to pass through the entire bed of
charcoal, in intimate contact with the whole volume of alcoholic vapours
passing through in the reverse direction, as was heretofore the case.
The form of the improved apparatus for carrying out the before-described
mode of operation may be variously modified. In the arrangement, which I
prefer to employ, the chamber containing the charcoal or other purifying
medium is formed narrow in width in proportion to its height, and of con-
siderable length. The chamber is constructed of thin copper or other suitable
metal, and, in order to economize space, it is by preference coiled round in a
spiral form, sufficient space being left between each of the convolutions for the
free circulation of water, air, or other suitable fluid or gas at the requisite tem-
perature for condensing the fusel liquor and watery particles separated from the
alcoholic vapours, by which water or air the said chamber is entirely or partially
surrounded. The bottom of the chamber is by preference perforated throughout
its length, through which perforations the fusel liquor and watery particles pass
into a receptacle below, whence they are conducted back into the distilling.
apparatus. The alcoholic vapours are conducted from the distilling apparatus
into the innermost end of the spiral chamber, and after permeating through
the entire length of the same pass from the other extremity, either into the
inner end of a second such chamber, or into any suitable condensing appa-
ratus, by preference such as is described in the Specification to certain Letters
Patent granted to Wilhelm August Abegg, bearing date the 21st day of June
1864. (No.. 1533). In order to prevent any alcoholic vapours from creeping
along between the top surface of the chamber and the upper surface of the
charcoal, small partitions may be made to extend from the top of the chamber
partially down into the body of the purifying medium.
The before-described apparatus may be employed in combination with any
known arrangement for separating the alcoholic vapours from the wash, but
by preference I employ it in combination with such apparatus as described in
the before-mentioned Specification to Letters Patent granted to Wilhelm
August Abegg. The charcoal or other purifying medium is removed from the
chamber when requisite, and is replaced by fresh material through apertures

page_text: formed in the top and bottom of the chamber, which apertures are closed in
an air-tight manner when the apparatus is in operation. In some cases, if it
be required to impart any particular odour or flavour to the liquor that is
being purified, I mix with the purifying medium contained in the chamber
such substances as will impart the requisite odour or flavour to the vapours as
they pass through.
Although I have described my improved apparatus as applied to the puri-
fication of spirituous liquors only, yet it is evident that the same apparatus
may with equal advantage be applied to the purification of any fluids
that are capable of volatilization and that require to be purified, such as
essential oils.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Carl Johann Falkman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 31st March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CARL
JOHANN FALKMAN, of St. Petersburg, in the. Empire of Russia, but now
residing at the Craven Hotel, Craven Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Carl Johann Falkman, Her special licence that I, the
said Carl Johann Falkman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Carl Johann Falkman, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND PURIFYING
SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE PURIFICATION OF OTHER VOLATILE
FLUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Carl Johann
Falkman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent

page_text: Umice within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Carl Johann Falkman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention has reference to that part of apparatus for distilling spirituous
liquors in which the alcoholic or spirituous vapours, after separation from the
wash, are purified from fusel oils and separated from the watery particles con-
tained therein.
My Invention consists in constructing apparatus in which such vapours are
caused to permeate in a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction through an
extended bed or stratum of animal or other charcoal, or other suitable
purifying medium, so arranged inside a closed receptacle or chamber of con-
siderable length, that the fusel liquor and watery particles absorbed by the
purifying medium from the alcoholic vapour shall be rapidly condensed
thereby, and caused to pass away in a downward direction 'from among the
purifying medium. By this arrangement the great advantage is gained of
obtaining the continuous purifying action of the entire bed of charcoal upon
the whole volume of the alcoholic vapours, whilst the fusel liquor and watery
particles, as fast as they are separated therefrom, are conducted away in a
downward direction from the purifying medium and out of the apparatus,
without having for this purpose to pass through the entire bed'of charcoal in
intimate contact with the 'whole volume of alcoholic vapours passing through
in the reverse direction, as was heretofore the case.
The form of the improved 'apparatus for carrying out the before-described
mode of operation 'may be variously modified. In the arrangement which I
prefer to employ, the chamber containing the charcoal or other purifying
medium is formed narrow in width in proportion to its height, and of consi-
derable length. The chamber is constructed of thin copper or other suitable
metal, and, in order to economize space, it is by preference coiled round in a
spiral form, sufficient space being left between each of the convolutions for
the free circulation of water, air, or other suitable fluid or gas at the requisite
temperature for condensing the fusel liquor and watery particles' separated
from the alcoholic vapours, by which water or air the said chamber is entirely
or partially surrounded. The bottom of the chamber is by preference per-
forated throughout its length, through which perforations the fusel liquor and
watery particles pass into a receptacle below, whence they are conducted back

page_text: into the distilling apparatus. The alcoholic vapours are conducted from the
distilling apparatus into the innermost end of the spiral chamber, and after
permeating through the entire length of the same, they pass from the other ex-
tremity either into the inner end of a second such chamber or into any suitable
condensing apparatus, by preference such as is described in the Specification
to certain Letters Patent granted to Wilhelm August Abegg, bearing date
the 21st of June 1864, No. 1533. In order to prevent any alcoholic vapours
from creeping along between the top surface of the chamber and the upper
surface of the charcoal, small partitions may be made to extend from the top
of the chamber partially down into the body of the purifying medium.
The before-described apparatus may be employed in combination with any
known arrangement for separating the alcoholic vapours from the wash, but I
prefer to employ it in combination with such apparatus as described in the
before-mentioned Specification to Letters Patent granted to Wilhelm August
Abegg. The charcoal or other purifying medium is removed from the
chamber when requisite, and is replaced by fresh material through apertures
formed in the top and bottom of the chamber, which apertures are closed in
an air-tight manner when the apparatus is in operation. In some cases if it
be required to impart any particular odour or flavour to the liquor that is
being purified, I mix with the purifying medium contained in the chamber
such substances as will impart the requisite odour or flavour to the vapours
as they pass through.
Although I have described my improved apparatus as applied to the purifi-
cation of spirituous liquors only, yet it is evident that the same apparatus may
with equal advantage be applied to the purification of any fluids that are
capable of volatilization, and from which the volatile impurities may be
separated in a similar manner, such as turpentine or essential oils.
On the accompanying Drawing are shewn various arrangements. of
my
improved apparatus. Figures 1 and 2 shew one arrangement of the same.
Figure 1 shews a sectional elevation of the apparatus, and Figure 2 shews a
part sectional plan of the same.
A, A, is a long narrow chamber of considerable height in proportion to its
width, which chamber is filled entirely with animal or other charcoal, or other
purifying medium, and is of any suitable air-tight material, by preference a
good conductor of heat. This chamber is in this case shewn bent into
serpentine form, in order to economize space, but it may be either straight in
its entire length, or bent into any other convenient form. This chamber is
hermetically closed at the top and sides, and has a perforated bottom B,
through which it communicates with the receptacle C, having the same form

page_text: 'as the chamber, and fixed thereto in an air-tight manner; or it may be
formed in one with the chamber A. Each extremity of the chamber A is
also closed by means of a perforated plate at D and E, through which it com
municates with the spaces F and G, of which F is connected by means of
a pipe H attached to it at the bottom with any description of distilling
apparatus by which alcohólic vapours are separated from wash or crude spirits.
The space G is connected by means of a pipe I with a condensing apparatus
of any suitable known arrangement for condensing alcoholic vapours into a
liquid form.
The chamber A is enclosed in a tank J, through which cold water is made
to flow, passing in through the pipes K and L, and flowing off through the
pipe M, which water; in coming in contact with the external surfaces of the
chamber, abstracts heat therefrom and consequently cools the contents of
such chamber.
As before stated, the chamber A is filled completely with animal or other
charcoal, which is introduced at the top through openings formed by making
portions N, N, of the top surface to open on hinges, as indicated, which, when
the apparatus is in operation, are closed down hermetically by means of screw
bolts. In order to remove the charcoal or other purifying medium when no
longer fit for use, other apertures O, O, are formed in the perforated bottom B,
passing through the receptacle C below which apertures are also closed
hermetically when the apparatus is in operation.
From the before-described arrangement it will be seen that unpurified
alcoholic vapours passing from the distilling apparatus through the pipe H
into the space F will enter the chamber A through the perforated plate D,
and will have to travel in a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction
through the entire length of the chamber in order to pass through the
perforated plate at E to the condenser, as indicated by the arrows in
Figure 2. In thus permeating through the entire bed of charcoal or other
purifying medium contained in the chamber cooled by the current of water
flowing through the tank J, the fusel and watery liquor contained in the
alcoholic vapours become more and more condensed and separated therefrom
by the purifying medium, which fusel and watery liquor, as it is formed, passes
in a downward direction through the bed of charcoal, from which it drains
into the receptacle C through the perforated bottom B. By this means the
upper portion of the bed of charcoal, through which the alcoholic vapours will
mainly pass, will always be comparatively free from fusel and watery liquor,
and it is evident that the further the vapours proceed in the chamber the
greater will be the depth of charcoal or other purifying medium free from

page_text: fusel and watery liquor, and therefore the more perfect will be the action of
such purifying medium upon the alcoholic vapours, which will consequently
pass out of the chamber A through the perforated plate E in a perfectly
purified state. As through imperfect filling, or through the settling down
of the charcoal or other purifying medium, a small space may exist between
the upper surface of the purifying medium and the top of the chamber A,
through which a small quantity of the alcoholic vapours might pass without
becoming purified, partitions, R, attached at intervals to the top and sides of
the chamber, are made to pass down any required distance into the purifying
medium, thus causing any such portions of alcoholic vapour that may creep.
along the top of the chamber to pass down through the purifying medium, in
order to get past such partitions. Such partitions might also be made to pass
alternately from the top of the chamber down nearly to the perforated bottom,
and from the perforated bottom up nearly to the top, so that the alcoholic
vapours would have to pass continually up and down in a vertical direction
through the purifying medium, but as by this means the alcoholic vapour
would be continually brought into intimate contact with the fusel liquor that
is passing down through the chamber, the principal advantage of my Inven-
tion would not be gained. In order to prevent any small particles of the
charcoal or other purifying medium from passing with the alcoholic vapours
into the condenser, the vapours are caused to pass from the pipe I into the
vessel P, where any particles of charcoal that have been carried with it may
subside, whilst the alcoholic vapours are conducted through the pipe Q into
the condenser. The condensed fusel and watery liquor that falls from the
purifying medium into the receptacle C is conducted thence through pipes S, S,
back into the distilling apparatus. The perforated bottom B to the chamber A
and the receptacle C, for collecting and removing the condensed liquor, may
in some cases be dispensed with, and the chamber A simply be provided
with a bottom made to slope down, either to one end of the same, or to
various points in its length, to which points pipes are connected for drawing off
the liquor that drains down to such points. When the perforated bottom B
and receptacle C are employed, partitions should be formed at intervals across
the receptacle C, so as to prevent any alcoholic vapours from creeping through
such receptacle without passing through the chamber A. As before stated,
the form of my improved apparatus may be variously modified; thus, instead
of making it of a serpentine form, as just described, it may be arranged
spirally, as indicated in sectional plan at Figure 3, the convolutions being
either of a curved form, as shewn, or polygonal; or a number of annular
chambers may be arranged to intercommunicate, the one being situated within

page_text: the other, as shewn in sectional plan at Figure 4, each such annular chamber
A', A', A³, being provided with a partition a', a³, a³, so that the alcoholic
vapours entering the central chamber A¹ through the pipe H close to the
partition a', have to pass right round the chamber before escaping through
the pipe H' on the other side of the partition into the chamber A, whence
after passing right round to the other side of the partition as they escape
through the pipe H³ into A', and so on until the vapours pass from the
chamber A through the pipe I to the condenser.
Figure 5 shews a longitudinal section, and Figure 6 shews a transverse
section of an arrangement in which several chambers A1, A2, A³, are arranged
the one above the other, being carried by a framing T, T, T. These chambers
are made to intercommunicate in the following manner:-The alcoholic
vapours are conducted from the distilling apparatus through the pipe H' into
the space F, whence they pass through the perforated plate D' into the
chamber A¹. After traversing in a horizontal direction through the stratum
of charcoal or other purifying medium contained therein, they pass through
the perforated plate E into the 'space G¹, whence they rise through the
pipe Hinto the space F* of the chamber A'. They then traverse this
chamber in a similar manner, and rise through the pipe H³ into the chamber
A, after traversing which they pass through the pipe I to the condenser.
The chambers A', A, A, in. this arrangement are shewn of reversed pro-
portions to those of the chamber in the first-described arrangement, their
height being small in proportion to their width; also, instead of being pro-
vided with a perforated bottom through which the watery and fusel liquor is
caused to pass into a separate channel, as in the first arrangement, the bottom
surfaces of the chambers are formed sloping, so that the liquor drains down
upon the same until it is intercepted by the partitions U and end surfaces D,
where pipes S, S, are provided for conducting the liquor back into the
distilling apparatus. Instead of immersing the chambers A', A", A³, into
water or other liquid for the purpose of cooling them, such cooling is in this
case effected by surface evaporation, a thin film of water being caused to flow
over their surfaces from perforated pipes V, V, V. . The waste water is caught
in the tray W, whence it flows off through the pipe X. The other details
Figures 1 and 2,
are similar to those already described with reference to
being designated by similar letters of reference, and need therefore not be
further described.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I
in no way limit myself to the precise arrangements of my improved apparatus

page_text: herein-before described with reference to the accompanying Drawing, as these
may be variously modified without departing from the nature of my Invention;
but what I claim is,―
First, constructing apparatus for purifying alcohol or spirituous liquors, and
other volatile fluids, in which the vapours of such fluids are caused to pass in
a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction through an extended bed of animal
or other charcoal, or other purifying medium contained in a closed chamber,
by preference of considerable length, the fusel and watery or otherwise impure
liquor that is separated from the vapour by the purifying medium being made
to pass in a downward direction from such purifying medium, substantially as
herein-before described.
Second, the various arrangements of apparatus for purifying alcohol or
spirituous liquor, or other volatile fluids, and the several modifications of the
same, as herein-before described with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Johann Falkman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
CARL J. FALKMAN. (L.B.)