Improvements in and relating to "Coffey's" Distilling Apparatus; and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and relating to "Coffey's" Distilling Apparatus;
and the like.
I, DAVID ALEXANDER BLAIR, of the Firm of Blair, Campbell and McLean, Scotland
Street Copper Works and Brass Foundry, 18, Scotland Street, in the County of the
City of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to "Coffey's ""
distilling apparatus and the like where a column or rectifier is built up of a large
series of super-imposed wooden frames each carrying generally four parallel tubes
jointed together at the ends and connected to those of the frames above and below
them. The invention comprises an improved method of fitting these tubes through
which the "wash" or liquor passes, whereby the individual tubes of each frame
can be removed or replaced without requiring to take down the frames of the column
of still, and packing of the tubes is also dispensed with, and the open space now
formed round the tubes in the front beam of frame utilized for heat to play on
tubes.
According to my improvements I cut a slot or opening in the wooden beam
forming the front of each frame of still, and in this slot I secure a metallic plate
formed with a set of holes for each of the tubes to pass through. This plate would
be secured by bolts screwed at their one end into paps formed in bridge plates
abutting against the opposite side of beam, and tightened up by nuts bearing up
against collars at front of main plate. Indiarubber or other insertion would be fitted
between tube plate and wooden beam, and bear into recesses in either of these so as
to form a fluid tight joint. A web would be formed on the inner surface of tube
plate to guide same into its proper position and prevent the tubes from shifting,
while a strengthening web would be fitted all round near the edge part on outer
surface of tube, and have transverse webs opposite the parts where the bolts pass
through plate. The tubes would be brazed or soldered to collars at the parts passing
through tube plate and the centre pair of tubes would be connected to each other by
semicircular joining bends or branches; while the bends or branches connecting the
other tubes with those from the frames above and below them would be secured by
studs formed in the tube plate entering holes formed in flanges on these bends.
The slotted plates instead of being fitted flush with front surface of beam, may be
sunk into recesses formed in the beam.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in and relating to "Coffey's" Distilling Apparatus,
and the like.
I, DAVID ALEXANDER BLAIR, of the Firm of Blair, Campbell and McLean, Scotland
Street Copper Works and Brass Foundry, 18, Scotland Street, in the County of the
City of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :-
«
"
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to Coffey's
distilling apparatus and the like where a column or rectifier is built up of a large
series of super-imposed wooden frames each carrying generally four parallel tubes
jointed together at the ends and connected to those of the frames above and below
them. The invention comprises an improved method of fitting these tubes through
which the "wash or liquor passes, whereby the individual tubes of each frame are
portable and can be removed or replaced without requiring to take down the frames
of the column of still, and packing of the tubes is also entirely dispensed with, and
the open space now formed round the tubes in front beam of frame utilized for heat
to play on tubes, and at same time give further rectifying power.
"
"
And in order that my said invention and the manner of carrying saine into practice.
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended a sheet of explanatory
drawings in which the same reference letters are used to indicate corresponding parts
in the several figures where shown. Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 a plan
view showing my improvements as applied to "Coffey's distilling apparatus.
Figure 3 is a section taken through the line A B Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a
section taken through the line CD Figure 2. Figure 5 is a front elevation to an
enlarged scale, and Figure 6 a section taken on the line G H with the tubes removed.
Figure 7 is a section taken on the line E F, and Figure 8 a corresponding view
taken on the line K L.
Referring to these drawings :-
According to my improvements I cut a slot or opening a in the wooden beam A
forming the front of each frame of still, and in this slot I secure a metallic plate a¹.
formed with a set of holes for each of the tubes to pass through. This plate a¹ would
be secured by bolts b screwed at their one end into paps b² formed in plates 61
abutting against the opposite side of beam A and tightened up by nuts 63 bearing up
against collars a³ at front of main plate a¹. India-rubber or other insertion c would
be fitted between tube plate a and wooden beam A and bear into recesses in either of
these so as to form a fluid tight joint. A web at would be formed on the inner surface
of tube plate a¹ to guide same into its proper position and prevent the tubes from
shifting, while a strengthening web d would be fitted all round near the edge part
on outer surface of tube plate and have transverse web d¹ opposite the parts where the
bolts b pass through plate a¹. The tubes a² would be brazed or soldered to collars c¹
at the parts passing through tube plate a¹ and the centre pair of tubes would be
connected to each other by semicircular joining bends or branches c² while the bends
or branches c connecting the other tubes with those from the frames above and
below them would be secured by studs c5 formed in the tube plate a¹ entering holes
formed in flanges c³ on these bends.
The plates a¹ instead of being fitted flush with front surface of beam A may be
sunk into recesses formed in the beam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In "Coffey's "distilling apparatus and the like, the improved method of

page_text: fitting the tubes through which the "wash" or liquor passes, so as to enable the
individual tubes of each frame to be removed or replaced without requiring to take
down the frames of the column of still, substantially as herein set forth.
"
Second. In " Coffey's distilling apparatus and the like, the arrangement and
combination of appliances substantially as and for the purposes herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In "Coffey's" distilling apparatus and the like the fitting of portable or
removable wash pipes in the rectifying column of stills all substantially as herein
described.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.