IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TREATING FERMENTED, FERMENTABLE, OR DISTILLED LIQUIDS FOR PRESERVING AND OXIDIZING OR 'AGING' THE SAME
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TREATING FERMENTED, FERMENTABLE, OR
DISTILLED LIQUIDS FOR PRESERVING AND OXIDIZING OR 'AGING' THE
SAME." A communication from abroad by Charles William Ramsay, of
Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lako at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th June 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TREATING
FERMENTED, FERMENTABLE, OR DISTILLED LIQUIDS FOR PRESERVING AND
OXIDIZING OR 'AGING' THE SAME." [A communication from abroad by Charles
William Ramsay, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.] '
This Invention relates to an improved machine or apparatus for treating fer-
mented, fermentable, and distilled liquids, such as wine, beer, ale, liquors, and other
like articles, according to the processes described in the Specifications of former
Letters Patent, dated A.D. 1880, November 3rd, No. 449+, and A.D. 1880,
November 4th, No. 4519.
According to the present Invention I provide an apparatus containing a series of
connected chambers having parallel ends with sides somewhat in the form of a
belix, each successive chamber of the series being larger than the one preceding it,
and the interior surface of the curvilinear portion of each chamber being preferably
corrugated so as to break up at the instant of impact into an infinitely fine spray
any fluid thrown against it by revolving drivers or beaters, one set of which is
placed within each of the chambers. The fluid to be treated is fed into the first or
smallest chamber through a suitable pipe or other opening, and is thence driven by
the revolving drivers or beaters into the next chamber of the series, and so on
through the whole series of chambers, from the last of which it is discharged into
a suitable tank or receiver where it is allowed to recondense into the form of a
fluid.
While undergoing this operation the material treated will be in a gaseous or

page_text: vaporous form, and in such form will be subjected to severe continuous_concussions
against the smooth or corrugated, but preferably corrugated, surfaces of the
successive chambers, and by these concussions the contained infusorial or other
germ-life will be effectually destroyed, and thereby injurious fermentation will
thereafter be arrested or prevented. With this same apparatus also the liquor or
other article treated may be readily oxidized or aged by introducing into the
chamber the requisito amount of oxygen for that purpose in the form of atmospheric
air or pure oxygen.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a supporting frame for the
machino, which frame may be made in any desired or convenient form. Con-
veniently attached to and supported by this frame is a set of converting or treating
chambers. There should preferably be two or more of these chambers, but for
ordinary use I prefer to employ three.
These chambers have helical or nearly helical sides and straight parallel ends,
the cuds being tightly fitted to the sides or curved plates, so as to form perfectly
tight connections between these parts which are to be secured together, either by
stud-bolts securing each end respectively to the curved side plates or by bolts
passing through both of the end plates and holding them firmly together and to
the intervening side plate. There are driving shafts passing transversely through
their respective chambers and provided with suitable bearings in the frame. To
these shafts are respectively attached rotary distributors, drivers, or beaters.
The shafts are placed excentrically across the chambers to which they respec-
tively belong, so as to bring the side of the rotary drivers or beaters (in oach case)
nearest the inlet side of its chamber, thus allowing an increased amount of room on
the opposite or outlet side of each set of drivers or beaters for the accommodation
of the increased and increasing volume of the article under treatment as it assumes
the attenuated or gaseous or vaporous form. Each of the vapor cavities increases
in size from the inlet end toward the outlet end, and the second cavity or sub-
chamber is larger than the first one, and the third one is larger than the second ono
which precedes it. This arrangement must be adhered to in the construction of 3
the apparatus, whether one or two or more of the converting chambers aro
employed. This is a fundamental and important element in the construction of
the apparatus, that is to say, increasing dimensions of the vaporous or gaseous
cavities or sub-chambers must exist in the apparatus to allow for the expansion of
the material under treatment, and this increase of size will belong to each separate
cavity or sub-chamber, and also to the sectional area of the wholo set of chambers
taken as a whole.
The inner side of the curved or helical plate of each of the chambers from a
point contiguous to the inlet or induction port to a point contiguous to the outlet
or eduction port (measured in the direction of the rotation of the distributors or
beaters) will be corrugated.
The beaters preferably consist of two or more curved arms attached to or cast
solidly with the hub-piece belonging thoreto, each of the said hubs to be neatly
fitted on and secured to the shaft to which it belongs.
Some effect, though not to so advantageous an extent, may be produced if these
arms are straight, but I prefer the mode of construction described."
The curvature of the arms of these beaters should be opposite the direction of
their rotation; it would be possible to use straight arms for this purpose, but they
would be liable to gather a considerable amount of the fluid between them during
their rotation and so render ineffective to a considerable degree the centrifugal action
of the machine. With the curved arms the centrifugal action of the machine
will be positivo and certain, but if the arms were straight the effect might be to clog
the machine.
An important element in the construction and operation of this apparatus is
the construction and location of the ports or apertures through and from which
the article treated is to be passed into and out of the converting or treating
chambers.

page_text: The material to be treated should be placed in a suitable tank or reservoir which
will, for most or all purposes, require to be tightly closed, except at its outlet-pipe
through which the fluid to be treated will pass into the converting chambers.
This pipe should be provided with a suitable stop-cock to prevent or regulate the
flow of the fluid into the apparatus, and this pipe will discharge itself through an
aperture into the first chamber, and an aperture or duct connects this chamber
with the next chamber, and another aperture or duct connects the latter chamber
with the next chamber, and so on, should there be more than three of the converting
chambers, while the last duct or aperture will lead from the last chamber of the
series to a receiver or storage reservoir where the vapor will bo allowed to re-
condense into the form of a fluid. The inlet duct is placed as nearly as practicable
toward the bottom or lowest point of the first converting chamber and the aperture
or duct leading from the first to the second chamber of the series is placed
tangentially to the first converting chamber, or as nearly so as practicable, and as
far removed circumferentially from the inlet duct as the combination of the
different cylinder will allow. This is for the purpose of utilizing as much of the
corrugated surface as possible. And this arrangement of the inlet and outlet duct
should apply as far as possible to each converting chamber of the set, the important
point being that each inlet shall be as near the bottom of its chamber as practicable,
and each outlet, placed tangentially, or nearly so, to its respective chamber and as
far removed circumferentially from its corresponding inlet as possible, so as to get the
full benefit of the operating surface. The first inlet duct being only required for
the passage of fluid need only be the size of the pipe to which it is attached, but
the duct for the passage of vaporized or partly vaporized material will necessarily
be larger than the first one, and the next duct being for the passage of the same
amount of material as the preceding one but in a more varified form should be
larger than the latter, and so on, and for the same reason the last duct should bo
larger than the one preceding it.
Suitable stop-cocks may be attached to each of the cylinders or chambers to draw
off any sedimentary deposit that may accumulate in them. This apparatus must
necessarily be very strongly constructed, and for most purposes will be best built
of cast iron, and be copper or porcelain lined.
At this stage, if desired, oxygen in the form of atmospheric air or pure oxygen
may be introduced into the chambers by means of a force-pump, air-compressor, or
other suitable device, and this oxygen thus caused to thoroughly permeate the
contents of the chambers, thereby the "aging " of the liquor or other article
treated will be easily and rapidly effected, and for this purpose an air compressor
or blower should be suitably placed and connected with each of the converting
chambers by direct and branch pipes, and this air-compressor may be used to drive
atmospheric air or oxygen into the converting chambers during the process of
treating any fluid which will require such auxiliary treatment while it is in a
vaporous form for the purpose of aging or oxidizing it.
The distributors or beaters should preferably be rotated from a common driving
shaft by means of suitable belts or corresponding toothed gearing, but the mechanism
should be so constructed as to rotate the second distributor in an opposito direction
to the first distributor, and the third distributor in an opposite direction to the
second distributor. The object of this construction is to cause the distributors to
move in a direction opposite to the current of Huid or vapor which strikes them,
and thereby to cause this current of fluid or vapor to impingo with great violenco
upon the distributors, thus very greatly contributing to the production of the
general result. It is important that the apertures or ducts should be located at as
Jow a point as practicable in the chambers they are respectively intended to
exhaust, and that the direction of their discharge shall be downwardly, as I have
found it to be impracticable to discharge these cold vapors in any other direction
than downwardly.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th December 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. 'IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TREATING
FERMENTED, FERMENTABLE, OR DISTILLED LIQUIDS FOR PRESERVING AND
OXIDIZING OR 'AGEING' THE SAME.' A communication from abroad by Charles
William Ramsay, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to an improved machine or apparatus for treating
fermented, fermentable, or distilled liquids, such as wine, beer, ale, liquors, and
other like articles, according to the processes described in the Specifications of
former Letters Patent dated November 3rd, A.D. 1880, No. 4494, and November 4th,
A.D. 1880, No. 4519.
According to the present Invention I provide an apparatus containing a series
of connected chambers having parallel ends with sides somewhat in the form of a
helix, each successive chamber of the series being larger than the one preceding it,
and the interior surface of the curvelincar portion of each chamber being preferably
corrugated so as to break up at the instant of impact into an infinitely fine spray,
any fluid thrown against it by revolving drivers or beaters, one set of which is
placed within cach of the aforesaid chambers. The fluid to be treated is fed into
the first or smallest chamber through a suitable pipe or other opening, and is thenco
driven by the revolving drivers or beaters into the next chamber of the series, and
so on through the whole series of chambers, from the last of which it is discharged
into a suitable tank or receiver, where it is allowed to re-condense into a liquid
condition.
While undergoing this operation the material treated will be in a gaseous or
vaporous form, and in such form will be subjected to severe continuous concussions
against the smooth or corrugated, but preferably corrugated, surfaces of the successive
chambers, and by these concussions the infusorial or other germ life contained in
the material will be effectually destroyed, and thereby injurious fermentation will
thereafter be arrested or prevented. With this same apparatus also the liquor or
other material treated may be readily oxidized or "aged" by introducing into the
chauber the requisite amount of oxygen for that purpose in the form of atmospheric
air or pure oxygen.
My Invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the machine or apparatus through all of
the holical chambers and their rotary distributors, and
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the said apparatus on the line x, x,
Figure 1.
A, A, represent the supporting framo of the machine, which frame may be made
in any desired or convenient form. Conveniently attached to and supported by
this frame is a set of converting or treating chambers B, C, D. There should
preferably be two or more of these chambers, but for ordinary use I prefer to
employ three of the said chambers shown. These chambers have helical, or nearly
helical, sides W, as shown in Figure 1, and straight parallel ends Y, as shown in
Figure 2, these ends being tightly fitted to the sides or curved plates so as to form
perfectly tight connections between these parts, which are to be secured together
either by stud bolts securing each end respectively to the curved side plates, or by
bolts passing through both of the end plates and holding thein firmly together
and to the intervening side plate, as shown in Figure 2.

page_text: B', C¹, D', represent driving shafts which pass transversely through their
respective chambers B, C, D, and are provided with suitable bearings in the
frame A. To these shafts are attached the rotary distributors, drivers, or beaters,
B, C, D, the construction and operation of which will be presently explained.
The shafts B, C, D', are placed excentrically across the chambers, B, C, D, to
which they respectively belong, as clearly shewn in Figure 1, so as to bring the
side of the rotary drivers or beaters (in each case) nearest the inlet side of its
chamber, thus allowing an increased amount of room or space on the opposite or
outlet side of each set of drivers or beaters for the accommodation of the increased
and increasing volume of the material under treatment, as it assumes an attenuated
gaseous or vaporous form. This increase of the vapor or gaseous cavity from the
induction toward the eduction ports of the various chambers of this apparatus is
clearly shown in Figure 1, and the said cavities or sub-chambers are represented in
this Figuro at b, c, d. It will be seen moreover by reference to this Figure that
each of these vapor-cavities increases in size from the inlet end toward the outlet
end, and that the second cavity or sub-chamber c is larger than the cavity b, and
the next cavity d larger than the cavity c which precedes it. This arrangement
must be adhered to in the construction of the apparatus, whether ono, two, or
more of the converting chambers are employed, and is a fundamental and important
element in the construction of the apparatus, that is to say, vaporous or gaseous
cavities or sub-chambers of increasing dimensions must exist in the apparatus to
allow for the expansion of the material under treatment, and this increase of size
will apply to each separate cavity or sub-chamber and also to the sectional area of
the whole set of chambers taken as a whole.
The inner side of the curved plate W of each of the chambers B, C, D, from a
point contiguous to the inlet or induction port to a point contiguous to the outlet
or eduction port (measured in the direction of the rotation of the distributors or
beaters) is corrugated, as shewn at w in Figure 1.
The beaters B, C, D², preferably consist of two or more curved arms attached to
or cast solidly with the hub piece belonging thereto, each of the said hubs being
neatly fitted on and secured to the shaft to which it belongs, as shown in Figure 1.
Some effect, though not to so advantageous an extent, may be produced if these
arms are straight, but I prefer the mode of construction described. The curvature
of the arms of these beaters should be in a direction opposite to that of their
rotation. It would be possible to use straight radial arms for this purpose, but
they would be liable to gather a considerable amount of the fluid between them
during their rotation, and so render ineffective to a considerable degree the
centrifugal action of the machine. With the curved arms shown in the Drawing,
however, the centrifugal action of the machine will be positive and certain, but if
the arms were straight the effect might be to clog the machine.
An important element in. the formation and operation of this apparatus is the
construction and location of the ports or apertures through and from which the
material to be treated is passed into and out of the converting or treating chambers.
The material to be treated should be placed in a suitable tank or reservoir E,
which will for most or all purposes require to bo tightly closed, except at its outlet
pipe F, through which the fluid to be treated will pass into the converting chambers.
This pipe F should be provided with a suitable stop-cock f to prevent or regulate
the flow of the fluid into the apparatus, and discharges its contents through an
aperture F1 into the first chamber B; an aperture or duct Fª connects this
chamber B with the next chamber C, and an aperture or duct F³ connects the said
chamber C with the chamber D, and so on, should there be more than three of the
converting chambers, while the last duct or aperture F extends from the last
chamber of the series to the receiver or storage reservoir G, where the vapor will
be allowed to re-condense into a liquid condition. As clearly shown in Figure 1,
the inlet or duct F is placed as nearly as practicable toward the bottom or lowest
point of the first converting chamber B, and the aperture or duct F² leading from
the first to the second chamber of the scrics, is placed tangentially to the first

page_text: converting chamber, or as nearly so as practicable and as far removed circum-
ferentially from the inlet duct F, as the combination of the different cylinders will
allow. This construction is for the purpose of utilizing as much of the corrugated
surface was possible, and this arrangement of the inlet and outlet ducts should
apply as far as possible to each converting chamber of the set, the important point
being that each inlet shall be as near the bottom of its chamber as practicable, and
cach outlet placed tangentially or nearly so to its respective chamber, and as far
removed circumferentially from its corresponding inlet as possible, so as to obtain
the full benefit of the operating surface w. The first inlet or duct F¹ being only
required for the passage of liquid, need only be the size of the pipe to which it is
attached, but the duct F2 being for the passage of vaporized or partly vaporized
material will necessarily be larger than the duct F¹, and the duct FS being for the
passage of the same amount of material as tho duct F2, but in a more rarefied form
should be larger than the said duct F, and so on, and for the same reason the
duct F' should be larger than the duct F³.
Suitable stop-cocks may be attached to cach of the cylinders or chambers to
draw off any sedimentary deposit that may accumulate in them.
The apparatus must necessarily be very strongly constructed, and for most
purposes it is preferable to build it of cast iron with a copper or porcelain lining.
If desired oxygen in the form of atmospheric air or pure oxygen may be
introduced into the chambers by means of a force-pump, air-compressor, or other
suitable device, so as to thoroughly permeate the contents of the chambers, and
thereby easily and rapidly effect the "aging "of the liquor or other article or material
treated. For this purpose an air compressor or blower H may be suitably placod
and connected with each of the converting chambers by direct and branch
pipes h, h¹, h³, h³, and this air-compressor may be used to drive the atmospheric air
or oxygen into the converting chainbers during the process of treating any fluid
which will require such auxiliary treatment while it is in a vaporous form for the
purpose of aging or oxidizing it.
The method of operating my improved apparatus is as follows, that is to say:-
The substance or fluid to be treated is fed into the first converting chamber through
the pipe F, and is driven around by the distributor or beater B against the
smooth or corrugated surface of the chamber B, the material flying off from the
rotating arms of the said beater in centrifugal lines with great force, and striking
the corrugations w with such a violent impact as to destroy in the first chamber
most of the infusorial or other germ life contained in the article treated, and in the
succeeding chamber or chambers the remainder of the germ life. In each successive
chamber after the first the rarefaction of the material will be increased, and tho
shocks imparted will be more severe until the final climax is reached in the last
converting chamber. This effect will be produced by reason of the gradually
increasing dimensions of the treating chambers hereinbefore explained, and by the
rotation of each successive distributor or set of beaters after the first, more rapidly
than the one preceding it. Thus about the proper speed for the first distributor B
should be, say, fifteen hundred revolutions per minute, that for the distributor C
should be about two thousand revolutions per minute, and that for the distri-
bution D' should be about twenty five hundred revolutions per minute, and so on.
The speeds thus given are only intended as a general guido as to the regulation of
the proper speed of the respective distributors, and may in either case be increased
or diminished as may be desired, or as best adapted to any particular work.
The distributors should preferably be rotated from a common driving shaft I
by means of suitable belts i or corresponding toothed gearing, but the mechanism
should be so constructed as to rotate the distributor C against the current from
the distributor B and the distributor De against the current from the distributor C³,
as shown by the arrows in Figure 1. The object of this construction is to cause the
distributors to move in a direction opposite to the current of fluid or vapor which
strikes them, and thereby to cause this current of fluid or vapor to impinge with
great violence upon the distributors, thus very greatly contributing to the production

page_text: of the general result. It is important that the apertures or ducts F2, F3, F4, should be
located at as low a point as practicable in the chambers which they are respectively
intended to exhaust, and that the direction of their discharge shall be downwardly,
as it has been found impracticable to discharge these cold vapors in any direction
other than downwardly.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A converting or treating chamber, or a series of two or more thereof,
having parallel ends and helical or nearly helical sides, in combination with rotary
distributors or beaters, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Second. A convorting or treating chamber, or a series of two or more thereof,
having parallel ends and helical or nearly helical sides, provided with corrugations
for a part of or for the entire working distance between the induction and eduction
ports of each chamber, in combination with rotary distributors or beaters, all
arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. A converting or treating chamber, or a series of two or more thereof,
having parallel ends and helical or nearly helical sides, in combination with rotary
distributors or beaters, constructed with curved arms or blades, all arranged and
operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. A converting or treating chamber, or a series of two or more thereof,
having parallel ends and helical or nearly helical sides, provided with corrugations
for a part of or for the entire working distance between the induction and eduction
ports of each chamber, in combination with rotary distributors or beaters,
constructed with curved arms or blades, all arranged and operating substantially as
described.
Fifth. The distributors or beaters B³, C³, D³, constructed with arms or blados,
which are curved in such a manner as to operate substantially as described.
Sixth. Two or more converting chambers, either with or without corrugations,
as described, so constructed as to gradually increase in size from the induction to
the eduction end of the series, in combination with distributors or beaters,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. An air or gas compressor, in combination with one or more converting
chambers B, C, D, either with or without corrugations, substantially as
described.
Eighth. The discharge or eduction apertures or ducts in the converting
chamber or chambers, so located or arranged as to permit the exhaust from such
chamber or chambers at as low a point as possible, and thereby enable the fluids or
vapors under treatment to be discharged downwardly, substantially as and for tho
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
band and scal, this Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord