Improvements in or relating to Distilling Apparatus for Spirits and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
TRWYDDIONAL DIMITRATION
Improvements in or relating to Distilling Apparatus for Spirits and
the like.
A communication from abroad by THOMAS BOLLAND, of Caracas, in the Republic
of Venezuela.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to distilling apparatus for spirits and the like. It has for
its object,
1st. The economising of the fuel used in the process, by utilising, as far as
possible, the heat produced therefrom.
2nd. The construction of a simple and compact apparatus whereby two distinct
spirits may be distilled at one and the same time.
The invention may be carried into effect as follows:-
-
An ordinary boiler or retort still is taken, into which the wash is put as usual.
From the head of this still, a swan-necked pipe is led in a downward direction into
the rectifier, where it terminates, by preference, in a perforated coil which is located
at or near the bottom of this rectifier.
Above the rectifier is placed a vessel, hereinafter called the "vapour still."
From a point at or near the upper end of the aforesaid swan-neck (or from the head
of the still itself) there is led a second pipe which enters the vapour still at or near
its upper end, coils round therein, in any suitable number of convolutions, and
enters the rectifier, either directly, or indirectly by being connected to the lower
end of the aforesaid swan-neck.
From the top of the rectifier, a tube of suitable shape passes upwards through
the vapour still, preferably through the centre of the aforesaid coil, its upper end
being connected with a suitable condenser which is provided with a deflecting plate
and serves a purpose hereinafter described. This condenser is located in a water
tank situated, by preference, on top of the vapour still. The outlet from this
condenser, and also the outlet or outlets from the vapour still, discharge by separate
tubes into specially constructed separate condensing apparatus hereinafter to be
more fully described. Additional condensing coils may also be placed intermediate
to the still and the aforesaid special condenser, if found necessary or desirable.
The mode of operation of the distilling apparatus is as follows:-
The vapours which first ascend into the head of the retort still pass into the
upper end of the coil within the vapour still, and gradually heat the spirit therein.
At first the hot vapour encountering the cold coils in the vapour still is condensed,
and runs down into the rectifier below. As soon however as the liquor in the
vapour still has been raised to a sufficient temperature, the alcoholic vapours arising
therefrom are led away to the condensing apparatus, hereinafter described,
preferably by pipes passing through the water tank aforesaid. The vapours from
the retort still being now no longer condensed by the cool coils, pass into the
rectifier both by way of the coil and directly by way of the swan-neck connected
with the head of the retort still. The vapours coming off from the liquor in the
rectifier pass in a heated state through the aforesaid central tube, thus heating the
liquor in the vapour still as they pass on to the condensing apparatus.
The vapours from the vapour still will be given off a very short time after
the vapours have begun to issue from the retort still. Thus two distinct distilling
operations can be carried on almost simultaneously. By the time that the bulk of
the vapour from the vapour still has come over, the operation of the retort still

page_text: will be complete. The latter can now be discharged, and the residue (if any) from
the vapour still passed into it by a pipe provided for the purpose. Thus no spirit
is lost during the operation, and the residual spirit will be distilled.
Each still can be recharged from a separate reservoir, or discharged when
necessary without interfering with the operation of the other. The vapour still is
also provided with an independent discharge cock in case it is at any time desired
to utilise the said still for distilling liquors which it is not desirable to pass into the
retort still. The rectifier is also provided with a syphon overflow of suitable
construction connecting it with the retort still.
Both the rectifier and the vapour still are provided with independent feed pipes,
whereby they may be charged when required with liquor. It is preferable, when
charging the rectifier at the commencement of the operation, only to fill it about
half full, otherwise so much condensed vapour will flow into it from the cold coils
of the vapour still, that the liquor in the rectifier will overflow into the retort still
while it is yet cold.
The feed pipe for the vapour still is, by preference, provided with a syphon
device, so that it can be charged whilst the still is at work. The operation is thus
made almost continuous. The vapour still may also be provided with a gauge-
glass and with a vent cock for facilitating the charging of the still at the
commencement of the operation.
The water tank on the top of the vapour still surrounds the condenser aforesaid
and the outlet pipe or pipes of the vapour still, and said condenser serves to
condense the aqueous vapour that rises with the alcoholic vapours from the vapour
still and from the rectifier. The deflecting plate or plates in the aforesaid condenser
serve to facilitate this condensation of aqueous vapour. Similar deflecting plates
may also be applied for a like purpose to the retort still in cases where a very high
proof spirit is required.
It will be obvious that, instead of the central heating tube and heating coil
aforesaid, many other arrangements of pipes or passages could be arranged within
the vapour still for the purpose of conveying the heat of the alcoholic vapours to
the liquor in said still. When the nature of the liquid in the vapour still renders it
necessary or advisable to protect the coil, tube and still from corrosion, these parts
may be coated or made with block tin.
The vapour still is, by preference, proportioned to the size of the retort still so
that when desired it may be advantageously used as a wash heater. Or the retort
still may be charged from a separate reservoir in which the wash may be heated by
any suitable means. It is preferable, however, to heat the wash in the tank con-
taining the additional condensing coils aforesaid, the said tank being for this
purpose connected by a discharge pipe with the retort still. When the wash is
heated in the vapour still, it will itself be distilled when raised to the proper
temperature. When the vapour still is intended to be used as a wash heater, it is
more advantageous to construct the three parts-the rectifier, vapour still and
water tank-in such a manner that they may be readily taken apart. When used
as a wash heater, the heating coil or coils might even be omitted, the heat being
derived wholly from the rectifier below such still, but in this case the latter cannot
be used as a vapour still.
In order to insure that the vapour coming over from the rectifier or from the
vapour still shall not enter the refrigerator whilst in a state of vapour, there is
introduced between the vapour still (or rectifier) and the ordinary condensing coils
a condensing apparatus of a peculiar construction. This consists of an outer vessel,
preferably cylindrical in shape or in the form of an inverted truncated cone and
having within it a similarly shaped vessel, the upper end of which is situated
opposite to the vapour inlet and has a dome shaped or conical top. The two vessels,
at their sides, are only a short distance apart and the space between them com-
municates at its lower end by means of suitable orifices with the interior of the
inner vessel, which, by preference, widens out from the bottom to the top and
communicates by means of a suitable pipe or pipes with the condensing worm.

page_text: This condenser is connected with the upper end of the condensing worm, and
lies preferably within the cooling tank containing said worm and at the upper part
of the tank.
The mode of action of this apparatus is as follows:
The stream of vapour entering the outer vessel is split up or deflected by coming
in contact with the conical or dome shaped top of the inner vessel. It then passes
in a thin stream down the annular space between the two vessels, the outer wall of
such space being of course in contact with the cooling fluid in the tank. Any
vapour, which might otherwise pass the condenser and cause a violent shock upon
entering the condensing tube, is led into the interior of the inner vessel through
the orifices aforesaid, and there it expands sufficiently to expend its force and
prevent it injuring the condensing coils. Such expansion also cools the vapour.
A
By the use of this specially constructed condenser, the products of several
distilling apparatus may be cooled in one cooling tank, as, the condenser being at
the top of the tank and the coils receiving only condensed liquor, the cooling fluid
at the bottom of the tank is kept at a comparatively low temperature, the hotter
water at the top being unable to heat the lower stratum to any great extent.
very convenient arrangement is to place four such condensers one at each corner of
a rectangular cooling tank, leaving a space in the centre sufficient to enable a
workman to enter to examine or repair the apparatus. The use of this improved
condenser also enables the length and bore of the cooling worm to be reduced.
The simultaneous distillation of two separate spirits as above described, if
properly conducted, results in a great saving of heating power, as the hot alcoholic
vapours, coming from the retort still, themselves act as a heating medium for the
second or vapour still. It is believed that the idea of utilising the heat of the
alcoholic vapours, as above described, has not before been publicly known.
It is also possible to produce a very pure spirit by means of the vapour still, as
the operation is very regular. The heating medium being alcoholic vapour, it
varies but little in temperature. It will generally be found more advantageous to
use the vapour still for redistillation, especially when high proof spirits are
required. The vapour still can however be used for any class of spirit. The retort,
when employed in conjunction with the rectifier and condensing arrangements
aforesaid, also produces a spirit of a very high proof.
1
L 1.1 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the 'Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Distilling Apparatus for Spirits and
0
the like.
A communication from abroad by THOMAS BOLLAND, of Caracas, in the Republic
of Venezuela.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Man-
chester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to distilling apparatus for spirits and the like.
It has for its object :-
1st. The economising of the fuel used in the process, by utilising, as far as
possible, the heat produced therefrom.
2nd. The construction of a simple and compact apparatus whereby two distinct
spirits may be distilled at one and the same time, and whereby a pure flavourless
spirit of high proof may be economically produced.

page_text: The invention may be carried into effect as follows, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the entire apparatus, with the
exception of the brickwork setting for the boiler or retort still.
Figure 1 is a section showing an improved form of brickwork setting for the
retort still.
Figure 2 is a plan of a group of specially constructed condensers with their
containing tank and connected coils.
Figure 3 is a vertical section, on
condensers.
an enlarged scale, of one of the above
Figure 4 is a transverse section on line ea, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan of the condenser with the top cover removed.
Figure 6 is a modification hereinafter described.
Figure 7 is a modified arrangement of condensers employed when the apparatus
is required to produce only one kind of spirit at the same operation.
A is an ordinary boiler or retort still which is heated by any suitable furnace
(not shown on the drawings) and into which the wash is put as usual.
a is the
still head, is the blow-off pipe for the still, having cock a³. a is a gauge glass
provided with the usual cocks and designed to show the level of the liquor in the
still. Instead of the gauge glass, a syphon overflow a', Figure 6, having a test
cock a', may be employed.
Figure 1 shows an improved furnace setting for the retort still. It is especially
useful when the fuel employed is wood or cane trash.
A is the grate below the still. A is the flue running round the exterior of the
still and communicating at one end with the chimney and at the other with the rear
end of the grate. The bottom or floor of the flue slopes downwards towards the
outer edge of the furnace, and away from the body of the still, as shown. A³ is a
space at the outer edge of the fluc, say of about an inch, or such other dimension as
will leave sufficient room for the ashes to escape through it and fall into a cavity A*
below the flue, said cavity being of any suitable dimensions. In that part of the
flue which passes over the front end of the grate, there can, of course, be no space
left between the outer wall and the floor of the flue. These parts should not,
however, be wider than is absolutely necessary. In these parts, the floor may have
a slight rise, in the centre and be reduced at the sides, so that fewer ashes will
remain there than at any other part of the flue. A good effect is also produced by
fixing bricks A5 or other baffling devices at intervals of about 15 inches in the top
of the flue and projecting downwards therein, their object being to retard the
movement of the products of combustion. The first of these bricks should be placed
at some distance from the point where the flame from the grate issues into the flue.
The first brick should have but a slight projection, the amount of projection of the
others being successively increased, the last brick having double the projection of
the first or even more.
0
B is the rectifier, which, in this instance, is a short cylindrical vessel. From the
head a, a swan-neck pipe C is led in a downward direction into the rectifier C,
where it terminates, by preference, in a perforated coil B' located at or near the
bottom of the rectifier. The diameter of the coil should not be made so small as to
throttle the incoming vapour, and the perforations nearer its inlet end should be
smaller and a greater distance apart than those more remote from that end, so that
the vapour is not discharged too rapidly at the feed end but discharged equally
throughout the entire length of the coil.
B is a syphon overflow leading from the rectifier to the retort still A and
discharging into the latter at or near the bottom thereof. B³ is a drain cock or
syphon. The overflow tube is closed at its upper end, and is provided, in its sides,
at suitable intervals, with a number of holes extending from the closed end
downwards to a point about an inch above the level of the coils or of the perforations
therein.
B is a blow-off cock, and B' an independent feed pipe, having a removable

page_text: cap B. The rectifier should be not less than one quarter of the size of the vapour
still hereinafter described.
Above the rectifier is placed a vessel D, hereinafter called the
vapour still,"
within which is a heating coil D', having a suitable number of convolutions and
supported within the still in any convenient manner. The upper end of the coil
communicates, by a pipe D', with the head a at any suitable point thereon, or with
the swan-neck at or near the upper end thereof. The lower end of the coil
communicates with the rectifier B, either directly, or indirectly by way of the lower
end of the swan-neck and the coil B', as shown.
d is a discharge pipe, having cock d', and leading from the bottom of the vapour still
to the retort still A, preferably at a point near the bottom thereof. is a syphon
overflow pipe provided with a cock leading from a point near the bottom of the
vapour still, to a point within the retort still near the bottom thereof. The lower
end of the pipe within the vapour still is cut at an angle, as shown, or provided
with a few holes near its extremity. The vapour still may also be provided with a
separate discharge cock for use in distilling liquors, the residue of which it is not
desired to pass into the retort still A. A separate feed pipe may also be provided,
if desirable. is a gauge glass, provided with the usual cocks. d is a vent cock,
of use when charging the still at the commencement of an operation.
•
E is a tank, whence the liquor may be run to the vapour still by one of two
pipes E E, provided respectively with cocks el e³, and syphons eet of a sufficient
length, the latter having drain coils e³ e respectively. The larger pipe E' is useful
for charging the still at the commencement of the operation, but, during the
continuance of the operation, it is more advantageous to use the smaller pipe E
and its cock, whereby the supply may be regulated to a nicety. The syphon E
permits of the still being readily charged while the apparatus is at work, so that the
operation of the still is rendered continuous. The supply tube E2 discharges into
the still at a point near the bottom thereof, its extremity being cut at an angle, or
perforated. The pipe may also be perforated for some distance upwards, as seen
at e, in order to afford ample means of escape for any vapour which may come over
with the supply.
It is advisable to place the extremity of the tube E2 at a somewhat higher level
than the end of the syphon overflow d² and at the opposite side of the still, so that
there shall be no liability of the spirit being carried up the overflow when the stop
cock thereof is opened at the same time that the supply tube is feeding. When,
however, the extremities of these pipes are properly placed, as shown, there is
little liability of any spirit thus passing into the overflow, as the spirit separates
from the water that accompanies it as soon as it issues from the extremity of the
supply tube into the heated liquor in the still, the water falling to the bottom of
the latter. In order to ensure the supply of spirit being heated to the proper
temperature before it enters the vapour still, the tube is led through the water
tank F (the water in which has, during the operation of the still, a temperature
of 150° to 170°) and is there provided with one or more convolutions e. If this is
not sufficient to heat the liquor supply to approximately the temperature of that in
the still, the tube may, after passing through the bottom of the tank, be extended
in the form of one or more additional convolutions in the vapour space at the
upper end of the still, before finally descending to the bottom of the still.
Fis a water tank located above the vapour still and provided with any suitable
arrangement (such as that hereinafter described) whereby the tank may be constantly
supplied with water of a proper temperature. is a pipe having a cock f¹, whereby
the water in the tank may, when desired, be run into the vapour still.
The top of the rectifier, which is, by preference formed dome-shaped, com-
municates, by a tube (r, with a condenser H situated within the water tank F. The
tube G passes through the vapour still, preferably through the centre of the heating
coil D' therein, and is made of any suitable shape. As shown in the drawing, it
may be provided with an enlargement y situated a short distance below the top of
the coil D'. The lower end of the tube G projects into the rectifier for a short

page_text: distance, as at g', and, in a similar manner, the upper portion of the tube projects
at its lower end into the enlargement g, as at y², and at its upper end, as at 9³, into
the condenser H.
It will be obvious that, instead of the central heating tube G and heating coil D',
many other arrangements of pipes or passages could be arranged within the vapour
still for the purpose of conveying the heat of the alcoholic vapours to the liquor in
said still. The vapour still is, by preference, so proportioned to the size of the
retort still A, that, when desired, it may be advantageously used as a wash heater.
When the nature of the liquid in the vapour still renders it necessary or advisable
to protect the coil, tube and still from corrosion, these parts may be coated or made
with block tin.
The condenser H is preferably dome-shaped and is provided with a dome-shaped
deflector h, situated directly above the tube G, at a short distance from the roof of
the condenser, and extending downwards to within a short distance of the floor
thereof, which is, preferably, dished as shown.
The outlet pipe H' from the condenser H is located above the deflector h and
communicates with a somewhat similar condenser J, also provided with a deflector i
and a superposed cooling tank J. This condenser J is not, however, absolutely
essential in connection with the rectifier. As in the previous case, the supply pipe
projects into the condenser, as at 1. J is a pipe (provided with a valve 2) and
leading from the floor of the condenser J to the bottom of the rectifier, B, or to
other desirable vessel or part of the apparatus as hereinafter described. J³ is the
outlet to the condenser above the deflector j.
K is a third condenser, somewhat larger than, but similar in other respects to,
the second condenser J, and communicating with the upper end of the vapour_still
by one or more pipes K, which, by preference, pass through the water tank F, as
shown. A pipe K2, having cock, leads from the bottom of the condenser K to
the bottom of the vapour still or to other desirable vessel or part of the apparatus,
as hereinafter described. K is the condenser outlet. The inlet pipes of the
various condensers may with advantage be respectively provided with hoods /³
k³, as shown. The return pipes J and K may, with advantage, be provided
with syphons.
K is a pipe supplying water to the uppermost cooling tank K¹. Thence the
water overflows, by a series of small holes & near the upper edge of the tank, into
a dish K located below the bottom of the condenser. From the centre of the dish,
it is discharged into the tank J', and thence, by a series of overflow holes j, into
the tank F, whence it finally overflows by a pipe F¹. The central opening of the
dish is provided with a raised rim, and, at a short distance from the rim, in the
bottom of the dish, there is placed a ring of small holes, as at 4°. This arrangement
serves to distribute the water on the condenser below as equally as possible without
permitting it to fall upon the pipes K³ and L.
The vapour outlets J and K of the rectifier condenser and the vapour still con-
denser are connected respectively by pipes L and M with condensers N and N¹ of
special construction hereinafter described. It is preferable to provide one or both
of these pipes with additional condensing coils, and, to this end, they may be con-
veniently led through a tank or wash heater P and provided therein with a suitable
number of convolutions. In the drawing, only the pipe L is, however, shown coiled.
P is a pipe connecting the bottom of the wash heater with the retort still (preferably
at a point near the bottom thereof) and provided with a cock P. P is a safety
pipe for leading off any vapour that may arise from the heated wash in the tank.
When the apparatus is worked continuously, the wash heater is supplied from a
suitable reservoir through a manhole P₁ as required. The wash heater may also be
used for heating water for washing out the retort still or for other purposes.
Qis the water tank of an ordinary refrigerator or cooler, and QQ the con-
densing coils therein, which are connected respectively with the spirit pipes L and M.
aforesaid.
In order to insure that the vapour coming over from the rectifier or from the

page_text: vapour still shall not enter the condensing coils QQ whilst in a state of vapour,
the special condensing apparatus N N' aforesaid are introduced between the lower
ends of the aforesaid spirit pipes and the condensing coils. These condensers are,
as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, of a peculiar construction. Each consists of an
outer vessel n, preferably cylindrical in shape or somewhat in the form of an inverted
truncated cone and having within it a similarly shaped vessel n', the upper end of
which may be situated just opposite to the vapour inlet n' and has a dome-shaped or
conical top n. The cover also facilitates the condensation of the vapour entering
the condenser. I prefer, however, to place the dome n³ a short distance below the
orifice n² and insert between the two a protecting plate or cover n', which serves to
receive the shock of the incoming vapour and protect the top of the inner vessel n'.
As an additional precaution to the latter, the plate may be provided with a
depending rim, entering for a short distance within the space between the two vessels,
as shown.
The cover may be secured to the outer walls of the condenser by means of lugs nº
inserted between the removable head and the body n of the condenser. The two
vessels n and n', at their sides, are only a short distance apart, and the space
between them communicates at its lower end by means of suitable orifices π with
the interior of the inner vessel, which, by preference, widens out, as shown, from
the bottom to the top, and communicates by means of a suitable pipe or pipes n³ with
its condensing worm, Q or Q nº are a series of rings of tinned copper or other
suitable material, secured to the bottom of the inner vessel n'. They are soldered
to the bottom at intervals or are otherwise so attached thereto as to leave
spaces, as shown, through which the liquor may pass from one side of the ring to
the other. The rings, arranged as aforesaid, serve to distribute the liquor equally
over the bottom of the vessel . The outlet n projects for a short distance into
the interior of the condenser and is provided with a few small holes n¹º, which serve
to drain off any liquor which may remain on the bottom of the vessel when the
operation of the condenser is complete.
The coils Q Q' from the lower ends of the condensers N N¹ are located in the
lower portion of the tank, Q, and the condensers in the upper part thereof. The
cooling fluid is supplied to the tank by a pipe Q entering near the bottom, and an
overflow is provided near the top, the supply being either continuous or
intermittent. The safety tube P³ from the wash heater also passes through the
tank Q.
Handholes for the purpose of cleaning, examination and repairs are provided
throughout the apparatus, where desirable.
When the apparatus is to be employed for carrying out two distilling operations
at the same time, it is advantageous to charge the retort still with fermented wash
(say from the heater P'), the rectifier with low wines (by the pipe B) and the
vapour still (by the pipe E') with spirit which has to be concentrated or rectified.
It is preferable not to charge the retort still above the level of the discharge pipe
of the vapour still, the exact level being shown by the gauge glass a³. The rectifier
is filled barely half full for a reason hereinafter described. The vapour still,
especially when the syphon overflow, d², is in use, is filled only to an inch or two
above the heating coils D'. By charging the retort still with fermented wash, it will
be found that the vapour still will be heated in less time than if the retort still were
charged with diluted spirit. Before commencing operations, the water tanks F, J1
and K should have some water in them, but they should not be constantly supplied
until distillation has fairly commenced, when the supply pipe K+ may be gradually
opened as required.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
The retort still A having been fired, the vapours, which first ascend into the
head a, pass into the upper end of the coil B' within the vapour still and gradually
heat the spirit therein. At first, the hot vapour, cucountering the cold coils in the
vapour still, is condensed, and runs down into the rectifier below, and, for this
reason, it
preferable, as aforesaid, not to put a full charge in the rectifier in the

page_text: first instance, otherwise the liquor in the rectifier will overflow into the retort still
while it is yet comparatively cold. As soon, however, as the liquor in the vapour
still has been raised to a sufficient temperature, the alcoholic vapours arising there-
from are led away to the condenser K by the pipes K. The vapours from the
lower part of the retort still head, being now no longer condensed by the cold coils D',
pass into the rectifier by way of the pipe C, and are there joined by the vapours coming
directly along said pipe from the upper end of the head a. These hot vapours,
issuing from the perforated coil within the rectifier, heat the liquor therein. The
hot vapours coming off from said liquor pass through the central heating tube G into
the condenser H, heating the liquor in the vapour still on their way.
The vapours from the vapour still D will be given off a very short time after the
vapours have begun to issue from the retort still A. Thus two distinct distilling
operations can be carried on almost simultaneously.
At the commencement of the operation, no vapour will come over from the con-
densers, as the cold water in their tanks F J¹ K' will condense it all as it passes in
thin streams between the deflectors and the crowns of the condensers, but, when the
water in the tanks has been heated to about 135° F. by the hot vapours, the most
alcoholic portion of the latter will find their way round the upper sides of the
deflectors hjk and reach the outlet pipes L M, the aqueous part of the vapours
being condensed. The vapours condensed within the condenser H find their way to
the bottom thereof, and thence overflow into the heating tube G and back into the
rectifier. The condensed vapours in the condensers J and K are returned to their
respective vessels or to other vessels by the pipes J2 K2 as aforesaid, to be re-distilled
or otherwise. Care should be taken during the operation that the supply of cold
water to the tanks F J K is not too great, otherwise the distillation will be
delayed. The vapours now pass along the pipes L and M, through the wash
heater P, wherein they are partly cooled, and into the condensers N and N¹. In
each of said condensers, the stream of vapour entering the outer vessel is split up
or deflected by coming in contact with the conical or dome-shaped cover n' above
the inner vessel, or with the top of said vessel itself where the cover is not employed.
The vapour then passes in a thin stream down the annular space between the two
vessels, the outer wall n of such space being, of course, in contact with the cooling
fluid in the tank. Any vapour, which might otherwise pass the condenser and cause
a violent shock upon entering the condensing tube Qor Q, is led into the interior
of the inner vessel n¹ through the orifices n aforesaid, and there it expands
sufficiently to expend its force and prevent it injuring the condensing coils. Such
expansion also cools the vapour. From the condensers it passes to the coils Q'
and Q2 and thence to any suitable collecting vessel.
By the time that the bulk of the vapour from the vapour still has come over, the
operation of the retort still will be complete. Should, however, the distillation in
the retort still be completed some time before that in the vapour still-as would
happen when a liquor containing a comparatively small amount of spirit is supplied
to the retort still--the latter must-if the double distilling operation is to be con-
tinued be furnished with a second or even third charge, which may be conveniently
supplied as required, to said still, at a sufficiently high temperature, from the wash
heater P, by the pipe P¹ and cock P. Or, in case of an emergency, some of the
contents of the vapour still could be discharged into the retort still.
The distilling operation being complete, the retort still can now be discharged,
and the residue (if any) from the vapour still passed into it, by the pipe d. Thus
no spirit is lost during the operation, and the residual spirit will be re-distilled.
In terminating the operation, water may, if desired, be passed into the vapour still
from the tank F by the pipe f
If the double distillation is to be conducted continuously, which is the most
advantageous way of working the apparatus, the retort still should have its wash
heater, as, for instance, the heater P, from which it may be supplied at intervals as
required. The heater may be provided with sufficient heating coils to heat the
liquor to such a degree that it will discharge the volatile oil by a safety tube, such

page_text: as P³, passing through a water tank, as Q. There is little liability of spirit coming
over from the tank when heated with a moderate number of coils, and any that does
come over may readily be condensed in the safety tube by providing it with a
suitable number of convolutions within the tank, as aforesaid. It is preferable also,
when working continuously, to commence with a charge in the vapour still barely
sufficient to cover the heating coils D', and then, after distillation has commenced,
to keep up the supply to the required level by the heated supply pipe E2. Or,
instead of charging the retort still from time to time from the wash heater P, the
supply pipe E and syphon overflow d³ may have their cocks so adjusted that a con-
stant supply of alcoholic liquor enters the vapour still and a constant amount of
aqueous liquor from the bottom of said still overflows into the retort still. When
working in this way, however, the latter still should be provided with a syphon
overflow such as is shown in Figure 6, instead of or in addition to the gauge
glass a, and the wash heater P, being no longer required, may be filled with water
and act as an additional cooler.
When the vapour still only is to be employed for distilling, the retort still, and,
if desirable, the rectifier also, may be charged with water, so that the vapour still
is heated by the steam from the retort still. This is not, however, such a
satisfactory way of working as either of the preceding. When working in this
manner, it is advisable to place a weighted valve on the pipe L leading from the
rectifier to the refrigerator tank Q. When the liquor in the vapour still is getting
low, this valve is relieved of its weight, so that the hot steam, which is now but
little cooled in passing through the heating pipe G, is enabled to escape and is
prevented from entering the cold condensing coil Q' and causing a shock thereto.
If the retort still be charged with spirit to be concentrated or rectified, sufficient
water should be added to reduce it to say 15° Cartier. The product from this will
be a high proof spirit, as the water has the effect of freeing the spirit from
impurities. Moreover, the charge in the retort still, being well diluted, as
aforesaid, hastens the operation of the vapour still. On the other hand, a diluted
charge in the vapour still has the effect of delaying its operation, so that its charge
should previously be reduced to proof, or should be taken at about 24° Cartier, the
average strength of the product of the ordinary rectifier. The best charge for the
vapour still can, however, only be ascertained by actual experiment.
When the combined apparatus is to be employed for the production of one kind
of pure spirit of high proof, the connections to and from the condensers J K may
be arranged as shown in Figure 7. The vapour outlet J of the lower
condenser J, instead of being connected with the special condenser N, is connected
with the upper condenser K by a pipe J, the upper part J of which projects
above the floor of said condenser and is, by preference, bevelled off at its end,
as shown, or otherwise so formed as to direct the vapours towards the centre
of the condenser. The return pipes J and K' may both be connected to the
pipe L leading to the special condenser N, or the liquor from these pipes may be
led separately or combined to any suitable point or points of the apparatus or to
other part or parts.
The alcoholic vapours arising from the rectifier are so purified by condensation
of their aqueous constituents before they enter the upper condenser K that they
do not act prejudicially on the vapours entering said condenser by the pipe .
from the vapour still, as they are of a proof equal to, if not higher than, the latter
vapours. At the commencement of the operation, the cocks and are kept
closed until a sufficient amount of liquor has accumulated upon the bottoms of the
condensers, as otherwise the vapour would find its way into the pipes J' and K²
without passing through the condensers. The cocks are afterwards opened to such
an extent as will permit the liquor to escape, but will retain a sufficient quantity of
it upon the bottoms of the condensers.
The condensed aqueous vapour (a kind of low wines) from the condensers J
and K, being passed through the disengaged condenser N and its refrigerating
coil, is collected in a separate vessel for re-distillation at another operation. Thi
B

page_text: is a great advantage, as, when the condensed aqueous vapours are returned during
the operation to the vessel whence they came, or to other vessel forming part of the
distilling apparatus (as is done in most stills having condensers) their presence will
not only delay the operation, but they will tend to impair the quality of the
remaining contents of such vessel. The above arrangement also has the advantage
that the condensed aqueous vapours are kept as much as possible out of contact
with the alcoholic vapours coming over from the condensers.
In some cases, I may also apply, to the vapour pipe I, connecting the two
condensers J and K, a water coil or other suitable cooling device, to the end that
only the most alcoholic part of the vapour will be permitted to pass from the
lower condenser into the upper. This device may be supplied partly or entirely
by the overflow water from the upper tank K', and it may discharge into the tank I,
preferably near the overflow thereof. Whether this cooling apparatus is employed
or not, however, the product of the rectifier will be of high proof, as only the
purest of the spirit will come over into the upper condenser K.
When the aqueous liquors from the two condensers J and K are to be collected
in separate vessels, one of the return tubes J' or K2 may be connected to the safety
tube P³ of the wash heater, the latter tube being, in this case, provided with a
suitable number of cooling coils, which may be conveniently arranged round the
inside of the refrigerator tank Q. The connection of the two tubes should be at
such a distance below the surface of the water in the tank as will prevent all
possibility of vapour rising from the aqueous liquors into the safety tube. The
coils on the latter tube should also be so proportioned and arranged that the water
at the bottom of the tank is not heated thereby.
To re-convert the apparatus, in order to distil two distinct qualities of spirit, as
aforesaid, it is only necessary to remove the tube J', close the upper connection J
by a blank flange, connect the lower condenser again with the special condenser N,
and connect one or both of the return tubes J K with the safety tube P³ or other
desired part or parts.
The following very simple device may be employed, in order to secure the non-
return of the spirit from such condensed alcoholic vapours as fall into the return
tubes J K
The liquor is allowed to issue from a very small orifice or through a small tube
of short length, into a funnel-shaped chamber. Any spirit vapour entering the
wider space of the funnel will expand therein and not return again through the
small orifice aforesaid. This device, however, is of little use if the return tubes
discharge into vessels containing liquid in a state of evaporation, as in the arrange-
ment shown in Figure 1.
When it is intended to use the vapour still as a wash heater, and generally when
the apparatus is very large, it is advantageous to so construct the rectifier, vapour
still and water tank F that they may be readily taken apart, any suitable jointing
being employed. The condenser H would conveniently come away with the water
tank. For the purposes of wash-heating, the coil D may be omitted from the
vapour still, the heat being obtained solely from the rectifier and its tube G, but, in
this case, the vapour still cannot be used as such.
When the apparatus is erected in situations where it is possible to obtain a supply
of steam, said steam may, with advantage, be employed to heat the contents of the
rectifier during the pauses which occur in the operation when the retort still is
being discharged and recharged. The steam may be applied to the contents in the
rectifier by means of a perforated coil or coils on the bottom thereof. Little or no
steam will reach the condenser H, and what little does, will tend rather to improve
the spirit by washing the oils from it. The retort still could, in a similar manner,
be provided with a steam coil, but, in this case, it is preferable to permit the
steam to discharge at the extreme end of the coil and near the bottom of the still.
By the use of the specially constructed condenser above described, the products
of several distilling, apparatus may be cooled in one refrigerating tank Q, as, the
condenser being at the top of the tank and the coils receiving only condensed

page_text: liquor, the cooling fluid at the bottom of the tank is kept at a comparatively low
temperature, the hotter stratum at the top being unable to heat the lower stratum
to any great extent. The use of this improved condenser also enables the length
and bore of the cooling worm Q' or Q to be reduced. It is preferable, however,
to reduce the bore of the worm rather than its length. Moreover, for the same
amount of work, a much smaller condenser is required than would have been
necessary had an ordinary double cylinder condenser been employed. The action
of the condensers is so perfect that it has been found possible, with two condensers
and condensing coils, and only a scanty and intermittent supply of water to the
tank Q, to work the distilling apparatus for an entire day, without any appreciable
change of temperature in the tank. It thus becomes possible to cool the product
of one or more distilling apparatus in one refrigerator tank without increasing the
size of the tank to an inconvenient extent. A very convenient arrangement is to
place four such condensers one at each corner of a rectangular cooling tank Q,
(as shown in Figure 2) leaving a space in the centre sufficient to enable a workman
to enter to examine or repair the apparatus.
The following modification may be adopted when nothing but high proof spirit
is required:
The lower connection with the worm may be removed and the plates united, so
that all the products will be cooled in the large worm. This arrangement gives
very good results.
The simultaneous distillation of two separate spirits as above described, if
properly conducted, results in a great saving of heating power, as the hot alcoholic
vapours, coming from the retort still, themselves act as a heating medium for the
second or vapour still. It is believed that the idea of utilising the heat of the
alcoholic vapours, as above described, has not before been made publicly known.
It is also possible to produce, at one operation, a very pure spirit by means of
the vapour still, as the operation is very regular. The heating medium being
alcoholic vapour, it varies but little in temperature. It will generally be found
more advantageous to work the apparatus continuously, and to use the vapour still
for redistillation, especially when high proof spirits are required. The vapour still
can, however, be used for any class of spirit.
By means of the vapour still, even without the use of the condenser K, it is
possible to produce a poor conditioned spirit of 35° Cartier, whereas the product
of ordinary continuous stills does not exceed 34° Cartier, while Coffey's still
produces a spirit having a strength of about 32° Cartier, or 68° over proof. With
the combined apparatus, it is possible to produce a spirit of as high a proof as
36° Cartier.
The apparatus can be worked continuously, and it is more simple in its con-
struction and less liable to get out of order than other distilling apparatus having
for their object the economical production of a pure high proof spirit.
Another advantage of the apparatus is that its product is free from the bad
flavour which is imparted to the products of many other stills, owing to their
alcoholic vapours being brought, during the distilling operation, into frequent
contact with the impure liquors.
The product of the rectifier is also improved, as the vapour still acts as a good
condenser therefor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In connection with an apparatus for distilling spirits or the like, the method
of heating the spirit, for the purpose of redistillation, by means of the hot vapours
from the retort still or rectifier or both, said vapours being led through the liquid
spirit by any suitable arrangement of heating pipes, tubes or passages, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
2. The improved distilling apparatus, taken as a whole substantially as shown

page_text: and described, whereby two distinct spirits may be distilled at one and the same
time with great economy of heating power.
3. The modification of the distilling apparatus taken as a whole substantially as
shown and described in Figure 7 and in connection with the apparatus shown in
Figure 1, whereby the entire apparatus may be utilised for the economical pro-
duction of a pure flavourless spirit of high proof.
4. In a distilling apparatus, the combination, with the cooling worm of the
refrigerator and the spirit pipe supplying the same, of a condenser, such as N, so
constructed and arranged that any spirit entering it in a vapourous state is con-
densed and prevented from entering the worm in a gaseous condition, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 4th day of April 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.