AN IMPROVED AREOMETRICAL BALANCE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED AREOMETRICAL BALANCE."-A com-
munication from abroad by Nicolas Benardaki, of St. Petersburg,
Russia.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 18th October 1872, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
AREOMETRICAL BALANCE," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto
me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has

page_text: been communicated to me from abroad by Nicolas Benardaki, of St.
Petersburg, Russia.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and {
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming
a part of this Specification
The apparatus herein described may be called an arcometrical balance
as this denomination indicates accurately its naturo and operation.
The said areometrical balance indicates with the utmost precision the
quantity of a dissolved substance contained in a solution in water passed
through the apparatus, and shews this quantity upon an indicator or
counter in units of measure or weight. The said apparatus is as simple
as possible; it consists of a single balance set in motion by the passage
of the fluid. The movement being more or less frequent, according to
the velocity of the fluid, and the especial value of the body that it holds
in solution; the oscillation of the balance depends as much upon the
density of the solution as upon the velocity of its passage. Thus with
the same speed of the flowing liquid the solution of the highest density
produces more frequent oscillations, and with the same density of the
liquid the oscillations increase with the increase of the speed of its
movement, and reversely.
The entire quantity of the fluid which at each oscillation of the
balance fills the whole apparatus, flows of itself, and it is in this
flowing fluid, that is to say, by the fluid expended by this process, that
I find the sum of the essence held in solution, which will be demonstrated.
This sum is presented upon the indicator by the oscillation of the
balance. The latter in its descent strikes with its arm an arm on the
said indicator, and moves it on the dial in such a manner that the sums
are marked consecutively one after the other.
So long as the infiltration is confined to a solution of the same density
and the same nature the parts of the fluid thus flowing remain equal to
each other at each oscillation of the swinging piece, and each part
contains the same quantity of the substance in solution; but as soon as
a solution of a density different to that of the preceding fluid is admitted

page_text: to the balance the volumes of fluid discharged from the apertures of the
swinging piece will differ from the preceding volumes. These volumes
will be either as many tinies less than the times the new infusion is
more dense than the preceding one, or as many times greater as the
new solution is less rich in solid matter. It therefore follows that the
novel construction of the balance herein described is based upon the
inverse proportion between the quantity of the solid matter contained in
the fluid, and the quantity of the volumes of the solutions discharged at
each oscillation of the balance. The latter in oscillating discharges
always such a quantity of fluid that, without regard to its density, it
contains always the same quantity of the substance in solution.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the said apparatus on the line 1, 2,
Figure 2; Figure 2 is a plan on the line 3, 4, Figure 1.
The balance is represented as it should be applied for
aqueous solutions
in which the solid in solution has a specific gravity less than that of the
water. This form of my Invention is advantageous for the demonstration
of the value of all materials less heavy than water, and has a special
gauge for each substance placed separately in solution.
The areometers shewn in the Drawings are arranged especially for
solutions of alcohol, and the said Drawings represent especially an
apparatus suitable for all solutions of alcohol, from 99% to 45%
inclusive. The balance may be placed in any desired position, but its
most appropriate place is in a box. I apply to the standards A, Figure 1,
which are firmly secured to the sides of the box, a horizontal bar B
fastened to each standard by the scrows b, Figure 2. Upon this bar I
place sockets for the needle points of the sockets or the needle points
themselves.
The needle points or their sockets may be made in a variety of ways;
the following is the most practical method of mounting them :-Screw
formed pieces of steel with a needle at the end terminating in a conical
form are screwed perpendicularly into the bar B, and each is provided
with two nuts. The steel sockets d with recesses cone-shaped in one,
and prismatic in the other, are placed in the other bar D, each socket
being applied to this last-mentioned bar by means of four screws c. The

page_text: bar D is fixed to the balance C by means of screws, or it may be simply
rivetted to the said balance, or cast upon the same.
It is obvious that the balance C may oscillate freely upon the needles «,
and that its friction is reduced to the least amount; the normal position
of its superficies should be exactly horizontal. When the transverse axis
of the surface of the balance is horizontal the screw a is secured solidly
and permanently to the bar B by the nuts a¹.
The balance C cannot descend on the left, because by its screw E it is
sustained against the shelf e', but at its right the balance can descend
until the end of the screw E' comes in contact, with the piece e". In
order that the stroke of this descent shall be as desired it is only
necessary to give to the screw E' an analogous inclination to the right
or left, and secure it to the balance C by the aid of two nuts.
It will be seen that upon the surface are solidly fixed the following
receptacles for the fluid. To the right of the axis of oscillation are
The vertical
placed vertically two flat channels which have prisms.
axis of these channels rest in a common vertical plane parallel to the
axis of oscillation. The axis itself is arranged in such a manner that its
intersection with the surface of the balance forms the final mathematical
point of the arm of the balance containing the vessel. According to the
direction of the said vertical surface, and upon the end of the arm, acts
the central weight of the fluid contained in the perpendicular part of the
tube and its gullet, and in the prismatic vessel of the balance F.
This vessel rests with openings made in the bottom upon the two
vertical tubes, to which the said vessel is securely attached by rivetting
at their vertical sides, while it is itself fixed to the balance by the aid of
four stays".
The vertical tube is arranged in such a manner that the fluid which
enters it does not flow into the vessel F, but descends the tube, and
without reaching the balance turns to the right, thence it passes into
the tube parallel to the axis of oscillation, and from this tube ƒ".
into the two tubes f" parallel to each other. From these tubes the
fluid enters the channel 7 securely attached to the lower surface of the
balanco parallel to the axis of oscillation.
The upper base of the channel g is formed by the surface of the
balance, and it has apertures throughout the entire width of the base.

page_text: These apertures are made in the bed of the balance and serve to conduct
the fluid from the channel g into the four cylinders, G', G", G", G",
into the vertical tube G, and lastly into the vertical regulating
cylinder K. The vertical axes of all these cylinders as well as the axis
of the tube are in the general vertical plane parallel to the axis of
oscillation. The intersection of the vertical plane above described with
the surface of the balance forms the final mathematical point of the
second arm of the balance, that is to say, that to which is attached the
weight. It could not be otherwise for the centre of gravity of any fluid
so long as it can enter the cylinders and the tube acts upon the
horizontal surface of the balance in the direction of the vertical plane
above specified; it is in this juxtaposition that I attach firmly the
cylinders G, G", G", G, K, and the tube G to the base of the
balance, which thereby forms for all these channels one common bottom,
provided with apertures as above described, and forming a passage to
the said channels and tube, and for the fluid coming from the channel g.
Upon the bottom of the four cylinders G¹, G", G", G", are solidly
secured supports in the form of prismatic triangles in such a manner
that the upper side of each support has a little more elevation than the
surface of the balance on the supports i. In the four cylinders G', G",
G, G, are placed the arcometers. All these arcometers have a
common elevation, each one of them consists of a cylinder with a conical
cover securely soldered upon all sides.
If the areometers G' to G" are placed in the cylinders G¹ to G",
there will be between the sides of each cylinder and the exterior surface
of its areometer an annular opening which has the same width in all the
cylinders. The most important matter to be observed in relation to the
arcometers G to G after the size of the plane of the transverse section,
is the weight of each arcometer in proportion to the weight of the
spirit.
At the top of the lateral sides of the cylinders G₁ to G", I form
conical spouts in such a manner that the lower frame of each of them is
upon the general plane L parallel with the surface of the balance in
contact with the upper edge of the gullet of the vertical tubes fr. The
upper and lateral configuration of each of the said spouts presents a
curve, and there is at the top a shade, and at the sides and below them
there is a small channel with its base inclined in the direction of the
vessel F into which cach passage enters and which is securely soldered

page_text: to the upper cover of the vessel. The object of these last described
passages is to distribute from the vessel F the superfluous drops of fluid
which would otherwise fall from the cylinders G' to G which, are
themselves covered at the top by flat heads secured by screws.
Furthermore the cylinder G" is surmounted by a flat box g™ with six
sides soldered in all parts.
These five
The upper base of this box is inclined in the direction of the vessel F
to the left. In the left side of the box is made a spout leading to a
small box m whose lower base is slightly inclined in the direction of the
cylinder G. The box m extends towards the cylinders G", and a little
further in that direction than the box g". In the lateral side of the
box m nearly at the end there is a round aperture leading into the
tube m², m, with the flanges n', n". These flanges are joined with the
flange from the tube m" having a projection bent down vertically,
and which being soldered with the vertical tube G forms a funnel for
conducting the liquid out of the box g through the tube m and the
tube m', m", into the vertical tube G. Over the box g", and the cup F
is a double weighing funnel M, M', and N, N', divided at the top by a
partition p. The first funnel M, M', with the reception neck M,
consists of a flat tube M', M', bent nearly to an angle with its lower
end directed from the tube f' to the middle of the neck f.
funnels connected together with connections o' are fixed to the cup F,
and form the general weighing funnel which serves the following
purpose: The liquid in the apparatus enters by the tubes O into the
tube Q, whence it is conducted by means of five delivering nozzles q
and tubes M', which lead it to the gutter of the reception neck f; from
the latter the fluid by its own weight descends through a pair of
tubes, into the channel "", and thence by means of two conducting
tubes fit passes to the channel g, and at last is conveyed to the
areometrical cylinders G, G", G", G", and into the vertical tube K.
This movement of the fluid is determined by the pressure of the column
contained in the vertical tubef. When the column of liquid in the
vertical tube is higher than the cylinders G', G", G, G", the
vertical tube G and the tube K, its weight will cause the liquid to rise
in them to the same height. At the moment when the liquid rises in
the vertical tube to the upper edge of the neck f, that is to say, to
the surface L, the liquid in the cylinders G', G", G", G", K, and in the
vertical tube G will rise to the height of the same surface L. Above

page_text: this point the liquid entering the neck through the funnels M cannot.
raise the level in the cylinders and tube G higher than the surface L,
that is, over the lower edge of the orifices ', 1", ", ", or in the neck f,
consequently the liquid reaching the height of the upper edge of the
neck will at once flow over the edges and their slopes into the
weighing cup F. If the velocity of the fresh supply of liquid to the
neck is too great it may form in the upper part of the fluid a convexity
which would raise the liquid in the cylinders G¹, G", G", G", rather
above the surface L. To avoid this difficulty I make the orifices l', l",
,, at the height of the surface L, so that they prevent the elevation
of the fluid in the cylinders above the surface L in case of the formation
of a convexity in the upper part of the fluid in the neck f, by conducting
away from the cylinders every superfluous drop which might rise above
the surface L.
It will be seen that the first and principal property of the said
areometrical balance is that the liquid which enters it fills first of all the
areometrical cylinders to one uniform height from the upper edges of
the prismatic triangles i. From the moment when the cylinders are filled
the liquid overflows the edges of the neck into the weighing cup F,
and does not increase or decrease in the areometrical cylinders. This
property of the balance renders possible the employment of the space in
each of the areometrical cylinders G, G", G", G", which is enclosed
between the sides and the upper surface of the areometers G', G", G™,
G", and between the upper edges of the standards i and the bottom of
the same arcometer for obtaining the units of the weights from the
liquid itself. In order that the balance may discharge at each descent
of the weighing cup the volumes of the liquid tested in inverse pro-
portion to the density of the solution, it is necessary that the afore-
said receptacle forming the units of the weight for the liquid solution
shall present in the new balance a variable value for each special density
of the solution. This variability is naturally subject to this unvarying
law, viz., that for two substances different in density, the changeable
volumes of the units of weight in the liquid represent values in inverse
proportion to the density of the solution, consequently I obtain the
smallest volume of the liquid unit of weight from the densest solution,
and vice versa.
The unit of the weight which formed by a solution of a given strength

page_text: case the balance in cach descent of the cup cannot throw out the
volumes of two different strengths which are inversely proportional to
those strengths, therefore the liquid weight is thrown out in each
successive descent of the weighing cup whether I weigh on the balance
liquids of the same or of different strengths. The unit of liquid dis-
charged at each time is a part of the whole which composes the whole
volume of solution, and which must be thrown out from the scales by
the descent of the cup.
With each successive rest of the solution the
balance itself gives the unit of weight of the same liquid in a proper
volume with a proportional strength of solution, and at each descent of
the cup of the balance it throws out the unit of weight and liquid so
that the total volume thrown out gives as a result the volume of fluid
to be found which contains always the unit of the dissolved substance.
If I subject to the test of the balance a solution of alcohol (for which
the balance shown in the Drawing is not intended) for instance
above 99%, then not one of the four areometers would be lifted, on the
contrary, all the four arcometers will rest with their bases on the upper
sides of the supports i, and there will remain then no other receptacle
for the unit of weight (formed in the case given by pure alcohol) but
the empty space left between the side walls of the four arcometers and
their respective areometrical cylinders in the tube G and the cylinder
regulator K, and yet this empty space cannot serve for the entire height
of the receivers but only in that part of their elevation which is limited
by the lower edge of the spouts P, ", ",, and the plane L projected
by the edge of the right of the gullet at the moment when the cup of
the balance is in full descent, as represented in Figure 1 by the dotted
lines.
In the construction of the balance the principles adopted are the
following The balance at each descent of its vessel or cup throws out
a quantity of the spirits of wine containing always the same quantity of
alcohol, and this quantity of alcohol is always about 2.458 litres. It
will be most convenient to make the arm of the cup three times as long
as the arm of unit of weight; morcover, as the fluid composing the
unit of weight is thrown out at the same time and into the same receiver
with the fluid contained in the cup of the balance, and the two fluids
together present the quantity of spirits of wine which ought to contain
about 2.458 litres of pure alcohol, it follows that without regard to the
density of the fluid the quantity of spirit composing the unit of weight.

page_text: forms the quarter of the whole quantity of the spirit thrown out by the
balance at cach descent of the cup. It is thus evident that in case of a
proof made with pure alcohol the quantity of fluid composing the unit
of weight ought to be approximately 0.6145 litre.
This ought to be precisely the volume of the air holes between the
side walls of the arcometers and their cylinder with a part of the tube G
and of the cylinder verifier K, which as above stated surmounts the
plane L' at the moment of the descent of the cup. But in order to
arrive at a greater precision the volume mentioned is made less by some
cubic centimetres than 0.614 litre. At the moment of the proof of the
balance itself the aforesaid deficit of the volume compensates itself with
precision by the corresponding elevation of the metallic stopper of the
cylinder regulator K. This stopper which is in brass is hollow in the
interior and solidly soldered on all its surfaces.
After the necessary
elevation the stopper is soldered to the regulator K with lead at the
height found. This cylinder K is called the regulator because it does
not open except to verify with the assistance of its stopper the volume of
the unit of weight according to the alcohol.
It will now be understood that the unit of weight at the moment of
the passage of the alcohol to the balance contains 0.614 litre of alcohol,
and that up to the moment of the disturbance of the equilibrium the
cup of the balance fills up to 1·229 litre; a drop more and the cup
empties itself. At this moment all the alcohol constituting the unit of
weight and being in the cylinders above the plane L' is discharged there-
from by the tubes ƒ", f", ƒ",, and the gullet in the cup F, and
thence together with the 1842 litre of alcohol into the outlet box U, and
by the tube W the alcohol descends finally into the receiver of the still
in a volume approximately of 2.458 litres.
If a spirit of wine under 99%, as low as 85% inclusive, is weighed in
the balance, this spirit weighing more than the arcometer G¹ raises the
latter more or less according to the extent of its surface. The threc
other arcometers rest without movement upon the supports i, while the
second arcometer G", which is equal in value to the 85% of the spirit,
and the two others G, G, weigh more. If the spirit falls below 85%
down to 70% inclusive, then it raises the arcometer G' yet more, and
lifts the arcometer G" more or less according to the density of the
spirit.

page_text: The two last arcometers G, G", rest without movement upon the
supports. If the spirit falls below 70% down to 57% inclusive, then
it will not only raise the arcometers G and G", higher, but it puts in
motion the arcometer G which it lifts in proportion to the fall of the
spirit of wine to 57%. The fourth arcometer G" rests motionless
upon the support i. At last when the spirit falls below 57% down
to 45% inclusive, the three first acrometers float always higher, and the
last G moves also, rising as much higher as the density of the spirit is
lower down to 45%
When the balance is intended for spirit of wine of any strength
from 100% to 45% inclusive, in order that the balance may throw out
at each descent of its cup as much spirit, so that its volume shall
contain always just the 2.458 litres of pure alcohol, it is necessary that
the general volume of the spirit thrown out by the balance shall be
conformable to the arcostatic law. If instead of spirit of 99%, 85%,
70% 57%, the arcometric cylinders G', G", G", G", are filled up to
the same height with a spirit of less strength than all the four
areometers G', G", G", G", weighing less than the spirit which
surrounds them rise and only stop when at the point where an
equilibrium can be established between the cylinders and the new spirits
of wine, it follows that if the distilleries only furnished spirit of high
strength, as is the case in the best manufactories, conducted according
to the most modern methods, this balance could then be used furnished
with a single areometrical cylinder with its arcometer. If on the con-
trary, as is the case in small distilleries badly organised, a spirit is
supplied less than 45%, for example, of 35%, it would then be necessary
to add to the balance represented in the Drawing a fifth arcometrical
cylinder with its arcometer.
As to the beam C which I have already described, it should further
be remarked, that it ought before being put in action to be in a perfect
state of equilibrium. This equilibrium may be attained with the aid of
a fixed counter weight which puts in equilibrium the weight of the
acrometers and part of the cylinders and of a moveable counterweight S¹
which, when once the equilibrium of the beam is attained fixes itself at
the point found. The screw of the weight S' and the cramp balanced
against it serves as a crank to put the beam in place and to remove it.
By refilling all the apparatus with fluid to be weighed, and reversing
completely the cup F, I cause the beam to return immediately to its

page_text: first horizontal position; the whole quantity of the fluid which remains
after this operation in the balance forms the fixed fluid ballast, so to
speak, of the balance. The conducting tubes and channels of the fluid
ought to be constructed conformably to the law which prescribes that
even with the ballast mentioned the equilibrium of the beam should be
exact in order that the fluid composing the balance may circulate
without hindrance in the two sides of the beam.
Returning now to the admission funnel M and N above mentioned, it
must be observed that the part M carries the fluid to the balance by the
aid of the gullet when the beam is lying horizontal; but when this
latter inclines towards the horizontal plane, the fluid by the cocks Չ enters
the second compartment of the funnel N, and flows therefrom by the
flat conduit N' into the inner receiver of the cover g, where the fluid
collects in an oblong mass up to the moment when its load in the cover
with the weight C₁ forces the balance to turn back and return again to
its horizontal position. Once there all the fluid passes at the same
instant from the cover g" into the vertical tube by the aid of the like
inclination in the lowest part of the cover, into the box m, and
the tube m, m³. From the vertical tube G the fluid passes into the
balance..
There yet remains to describe the last part of the balance, viz., the
temperature apparatus enclosed in the double box H, which is fixed in
its turn between two vertical tubes f', exactly in the middle of them.
In the first of these boxes, which is soldered externally at all parts, are
formed above and below two apertures in the cylindrical wall. The fluid
arrives without intermission from the gullet f into the box by the upper
aperture by the aid of a communicating pipe, and having filled the box
it runs out also without intermission through a flat pipe f¹ placed
between two other tubes in the channel "", and thence into the
whole of the balance; that is to say, in the box H should circulate
without stopping a stream of fluid always fresh, passing to the balance
and arriving by the cocks q. This box contains another, which is con-
centric with it and soldered all around, and whose walls are situated at a
certain distance from the walls of the box H; that is to say, to these last
walls are soldered by bars or ribs the walls of the interior box. These
ribs do not in any way prevent the circulation of the fluid between the
walls of the two boxes. The central axis of the inner box, solidly fixed
to its flat walls, carries wound around and fixed on the centre a spiral

page_text: formed of two ribbons rivetted together, and being formed of steel and
the other of brass. The loose end of the said spiral is provided at the
level of the top of the box with a weight, fixed in such a manner that at
the normal temperature the centre of gravity of this weight is found
upon the perpendicular projected by the final mathematical point of the
shortest arm of the beam C, that is to say, through the centre of the
cup F. When the temperature is above the normal degree the weight,
by the effect of the spiral winding upon itself towards the centre, rises in
the direction of the axis of the oscillations of the balance; in the con-
trary case, when the temperature is below the normal degree the weight,
by the effect of the unwinding of the spiral, leaves the perpendicular
before mentioned and removes farther and farther from the axis of
oscillations of the balance. This displacement of the weight (based
upon a physical law), now to the one side now to the other, prevents the
admission of the alcohol to the balance in a too large quantity by reason
of a temperature below the normal degree, and in a too small quantity
on account of the temperature being above the normal degree. In a
word, the said temperature regulating apparatus causes the spirit running
from the condensor at any degree of temperature to be thrown out by
the balance in the volume containing just the quantity of alcohol which
it will throw out at the normal temperature.
The spirit of wine enters from the condensor into the said apparatus
by a supply pipe S, then passes upwards into an immovable perforated
cylinder P, which will not allow any foreign body that might accidently
be in the spirit to enter the balance. Thence the spirit passes into an
immovable cylinder, flowing through the pipe », and from the latter it
arrives by a worm in its last turn Q, thence the spirit descends freely
into the receiving gullets M of the five funnels M.
The spirit
filling in the proper proportion the vertical channels, the inclined
channels, the common channel, and the two conducting
channels enters into the general channel g, and thence passes into
the cylinders G, G", G, G", the tube G, and the cylinder verifier K.
During this flowing of the fluid the horizontal levels in the cylinders
above the tube as well as in the two vertical conduits 'with their
common spouts ƒ risc methodically and reach the top of the gullet f
At this moment the aforesaid level rises no higher and all the fluid then
arriving from the funnels M' flows out by the sides of the spout into
the
cup
of the balance as long as the balance is not in equilibrium.

page_text: Another drop falls into the cup and the latter turns over in an instant
together with the arm of the beam. Here all the fluid contained in
the cylinders G to G, the tube G, and the verifying cylinder K,
which while the balance C is in an inclined position rest above the
planc L', flows freely by the spout ƒ into the cup F. The fluid which
composed the unit of weight and which is above the arcometers,
between their bottoms and the supports i, forced by the pressure
of the descending areometers falls by the conduits f", f", ƒ¹‚.and
the spout into the cup F like a fountain. From the cup F the
whole of the fluid flows by its spout F into the receiver U, and thence
by the conducting pipe w into the receiver of the still. At the descent
of the cup F the arm of the balance O" touches upon the arm of the
numerator O", and marks upon this latter 2-458 litres of alcohol approxi-
mately, and the corresponding amount of the duty in francs.
As soon as the cup F descends the first part of the funnels M escapes
from below the outlet cocks q, and in its place arrives the part N of the
funnels; then the fluid from the cocks q enters the funnel N¹ and the
cup g; while the last drops of the fluid fall from the cup F into
the box U the box g is filled with fluid as far as this load with the aid
of the weight. C¹ inclines the beam of the balance towards the contrary
position, that is to say, to the primitive horizontal position.
Then the part of the funnel. N escapes from below the conducting
cocks Q and at the same time under these last return the receiving
spouts M, at the same time, the fluid flows out of the box by the box m
and the pipe m', m", into the tube G, and thence passes to the general
system of the balance, then refills as before the system of the balance by
the cocks ; the equilibrium of the balance is established, and if there
arrives one drop more into the cup F this cup empties itself, there
appears upon the numerator again 2.458 litres of alcohol, the amount of
the duty, and so on. In a word the balance of the apparatus oscillates
without ceasing, now to the one side now to the other.
Thus by the Invention of the arcometric balance is accomplished the
solution of an important mechanical question, that is to say, the automatic
measuring by mechanism of the real quantity of alcohol contained in
spirits of different strengths and at different temperatures. Moreover
the mechanism of the apparatus is of unexampled simplicity, and consists
only of one moveable part, namely, a balance or beam oscillating now on

page_text: one side now on the other, upon two conical immovable steel needle
points. All the integral parts are immovable with regard to each other,
and they are solidly soldered or fixed to each other in such a manner as
to form a single piece, constituting an entirely novel contrivance for
obtaining the equilibrium of the balance.
There are two groups, both soluble in water, which differ essentially
by reference to the balance and its structure. The first group con-
sists of matters whose specific gravity is less than that of water, of
which alcohol is an example; the second group comprises all the other
bodies, namely, all those of which the specific gravity is higher than that
of water, among which are sugar and the extract of beer.
The Drawing representing the apparatus for the determination of
the quantity of alcohol in its aqueous solutions presents the most perfect
type of au areometric balance for the first group of bodies, and is not
susceptible of any modification. It is necessary to have precise data of
the body which is to be determined in the solution as to its specific
gravity and the weight of the solutions of every density to be able to
finish the apparatus in all its details according to the means above
indicated. First, the precise volume of the unit of weight composing
the solutions differing by the quantity of degrees from the matter to
be determined. Second, the total of the fluid which the balance ought to
throw out at each emptying of the cup. Third, the distance to be
observed between the bottom of each areometer and the supports i.
Fourth, the surface of the transverse section of each arcometer, and also
the volume of each arcomcter and its weight in kilogrammes.
In the construction of the aforesaid apparatus for the second group
of bodies it is necessary to make some changes in the arrangement of
the areometrical cylinders and of their arcometers upon the balance
beam. All these cylinders and arcometers are removed from the left
arm to the right arm, preserving the preceding distance between tho
respective centres and the axis of oscillation of the beam. Upon the
left arm instead of the tube G I place a cylinder of a greater diameter
and also the cylinder regulator K.
When the cup F is in full descent the lower part of the cylinder
being below the plane L', contains the precise volume of the weight,
consisting of fluid and corresponding to the least degreo of strength
of the solution. Unless it should be absolutely necessary there must

page_text: not be placed in the areometrical balance arcometers for spirits con-
taining but a few degrees of alcohol, as for that purpose a too great
number of areometrical cylinders are required, the diameters of which
cylinders must be enlarged to inordinate proportions.
An apparatus is thus provided, which is in the box of the areo-
metrical balance and entirely distinct from the balance, and is never
active; it is a sentry whose special duty is to be always on the watch.
It will be seen from the above description that the results obtained
by the arcometrical balance cannot be altered, for the excise officer
never need open the box which is sealed for a long time in a horizontal
position. The only possible thing for the manufacturer would be to
cause the box to be submerged by closing the outlet aperture of the
pipe and thus stopping the action of the areometrical balance for
any desired time. Then an artificial aperture could be made in the
pipe w by means of a stopper made of resin, spirits free of duty
could be obtained, and this box be kept submerged. But the afore-
said officer would never allow any one to deceive him in such a
manner. Not another drop of spirits will enter into the box as the
fluid will already have passed from the box U by the lateral aperture
provided with a shade in a special side box W, and the fluid filling
up this latter will lift up the float W; this latter will close the
admission aperture with a stopper made of resin, which will be pressed
by the said float upon the thin sides of a metallic ring in the filtering
cylinder R.
After this has taken place not a drop of spirits will
pass either
from the reservoir to the balance or into the box, thus the distillation
will necessarily stop, and it will be necessary to inform the official
of it, or what amounts to the same thing the fraudulent manufacturer
will be obliged to acknowledge the subterfuge which he has employed
to obtain the spirits of wine without paying the duties. The excise
officer by simply opening the box ascertains without any doubt the
fraudulent intention of the manufacturer, for otherwise not a single
drop could have entered the lateral box W. It is clear that no further
attempt to defraud would be repeated, for instead of profiting by his
subterfuge the distiller would find it gives rise to much trouble, and the
apparatus is rendered useless. As to the collection of the duty, it is
very simply made, the collector or other excise official opens a small
side door and sees instantly through windows the quantity of alcohol

page_text: which has passed since his last visit, and the amount of money he
has to receive. Having entered in the books of the excise the two
numbers indicating the quantity of alcohol and the amount of the
duty, no other person can take either one litre of alcohol or any sum
whatever of duty, for the figures are arranged upon the register by
subsequent sums of consecutive totals, for each approximate volume
of 2.458 litres, since the day of the setting of the balance. The
dimensions of the apparatus, the weight of its several parts, and their
form and arrangement may be modified to some extent, according to
the use to which they are to be applied.
By the preceding description and the accompanying Drawings it
will be understood that this Invention is characterised by the com-
bination and the construction of an automatic and controlling apparatus,
which serves to determine in the most exact manner the real quantity
of pure alcohol contained in spirits of various strengths, and at different
temperatures.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October,
in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-two.
Witness,
W. J. LOWE.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)