IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDROMETERS FOR ASCERTAINING THE STRENGTH OF SPIRITS, AND THE SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF FLUIDS.
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France,
and 38, Porchester Terrace, Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDROMETERS
FOR ASCERTAINING THE STRENGTH OF SPIRITS, AND THE SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF
FLUIDS. A communication from Claude Alphonse Valson, residing at
Ruo de Ponthieu, Paris, aforesaid.
Sealed the 10th November 1865, and dated the 15th May 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th May 1865.
I, HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices,.
24, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 38, Porchester
Terrace, Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDROMETERS,
POR ASCERTAINING THE STRENGTH OF SPIRITS, AND THE SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF
FLUIDS," communicated to me by Claude Alphonse Valson, a person residing
at Rue de Ponthieu, Paris, aforesaid, to be as follows:-
This Invention is based on the principle that fluids rise in capillary tubes
to a greater or less height according to their specific gravity. The improved
apparatus consists of a capillary tube, which is immersed to a suitable depth

page_text: in the fluid to be assayed, and from which the air is exhausted by aspiration,
when the fluid rises to a certain height, where it stops. A graduated scale
placed near indicates the degree of strength or specific gravity of the fluid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th November 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRI
ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 24, Rue du
Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 38, Porchester Terrace,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henri Adrien Bonneville, Her special licence that I, the said Henri Adrien
Bonneville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henri Adrien Bonneville, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should in any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN HYDROMETERS, FOR ASCERTAINING THE STRENGTH OF SPIRITS, AND
THE SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF FLUIDS," communicated to me by Claude Alphonse
Valson, a person residing at 15, Rue de Ponthieu, Paris, in the Empire of
France, aforesaid, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henri Adrien Bonneville, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This Invention is based on the principle that fluids rise in capillary tubes

page_text: to a greater or less height, according to their specific gravity. The improved.
apparatus consists in a capillary tube, which is immersed to a suitable depth.
in the fluid to be essayed, and from which the air is exhausted by aspiration,
when the fluid rises to a certain height, where it stops, A graduated scale
placed near indicates the degree of strength or specific gravity of the fluid.
The accompanying Drawings represent different modifications and appli-
cations of the above principle.
The Fig. 1 is an isolated capillary tube pointed at both ends, and provided
with two scales marked in opposite directions. The upper one for ordinary
wines, and the lower for sugared or brandied wines and spirits. The former
scale is equally divided, and the latter is marked with alcoholic degrees. The
point only of this tube should enter the liquid to be assayed. Fig. 2 is.a
similar tube cut square, and provided with two metal points, intended
specially for fluids at a rather high alcoholic degree. The line of immersion
is at 0. Fig. 3 is a simple capillary tube mounted in a second oval-shaped
tube, provided with two scales, the right hand ones for wines, and the left
hand one for brandied wines and liquids of higher alcoholic degree. The two
metal points shown in this Figure mark the line of immersion. The tubes are
supported by two cross pieces suitably mounted on a small glass or cup.
Fig. 4 is a similar tube, provided with a double scale for the above purposes.
This tube has no cross piece, and is simply carried by a metal foot. The 0
forms the line of immersion. Fig. 5 is the same simple capillary tube
mounted on a wooden scale graduated on both sides, with a metal foot. The
0 is placed at the line of immersion.
Fig. 6 represents a more complete apparatus. In this Figure V is a glass
cup or bowl of suitable capacity. A, a brass cover; B, B, B, B, brass
frame forming part of the cover; C, C, moveable capillary tube sliding
tightly in a groove; D, D, a divided scale, also sliding tightly in a groove,
and terminated by a point F; E, E, a thermometer, also sliding tightly in
the frame B, B.
This apparatus will allow of ascertaining very promptly the alcoholic degree
of ordinary, sour, sugared, and brandied wines and spirits, and similar organic
liquids in general. It is chiefly adapted for practical use, and not for tests, in
which great precision is necessary.
To make use of this apparatus the instrument should be placed on a flat
surface, and the cover being removed the cup should be filled to a suitable
extent with the liquid it is wished to test. The tube should then be made to
plunge slightly in the liquid, and the scale slid down until its point F touches
the surface of the liquid, when the liquid should be aspired by the upper end
'

page_text: of the capillary tube, and allowed to descend to its level. The height of the
column of liquid can then be read on the scale, and by the use of a table its
strength may be estimated. For the other modifications of the apparatus
the use is the same, the only difference being, that necessitated by their
construction.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, what I claim and wish to secure by
Letters Patent is, the improved hydrometer for ascertaining the alcoholic
strength of wine, spirits, and similar fluids, and the composition of organic
liquids in general, constructed on the capillary principle above mentioned,
substantially as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
H. BONNEVILLE. (L.S.)