IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLATION AND APPARATUS USED IN THE PROCESS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Twentyman, Distiller, Glentarras Distillery,
Langholm, N.B., for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLATION AND
APPARATUS USED IN THE PROCESS."
Sealed the 29th January 1878, and dated the 31st July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Twentyman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st July 1877.
JOSEPH TWENTYMAN, Distiller, Glentarras Distillery, Langholm, N.B. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DISTILLATION AND APPARATUS USED IN THE PROCESS."
My Invention consists in the application of apparatus to ordinary and other stills
used in the manufacture of spirits and other essences, for the purposes of blending
and amalgamating the spirit and essences of various fluids and substances while in
a state of vapour; and is designed primarily for the softening, blending, and mellowing
of alcoholic products, instead of producing these results in the ordinary manner by
the addition of water in a crude state, and is described as follows:-
To the ordinary spirit still I attach connections leading from an ordinary water
boiler, or steam generator of suitable form; these connections form a communication
between the above-named steam generator and the spirit still, and are connected in
the following manner-The pipe leading from the steam generator to the spirit
still is attached to each vessel just above the charging lines, and is conveyed into
the worm of the spirit still, and carried over the goose neck of the still to any con-
venient length; a branch is also carried from this pipe and connected to the upper
part of the still, controlled by suitable valve or cock, and passing up inside, is
joined to the first-named pipe. This branch pipe is perforated, so that by operating
upon the valve or cock, the vapour from the steam generator may be discharged
through the perforated branch when required, or entirely shut off, and the whole of
the vapour carried over the bend of the neck.
In order the more fully to amalgamate and blend the different vapours, I some-
times place an agitator in a chamber into which the vapours pass, and by the action
of this agitator the vapours are thoroughly broken up and mixed before passing

page_text: into the condensing worm; and in order to regulate and control the action of this
apparatus, so that the attendant may increase or diminish the proportion of diluting
vapour when desired, I attach to the receiver of the products of the distillation an
apparatus constructed in the following manner :-A very finely fitted cock or valve,
having attached to it a delicately balanced lever, having a float of copper, silver, or
other suitable material, is fitted inside a safe or receiver. This float is actuated by
the difference in the specific gravity of the liquids in which it floats, and rises and
falls with the variations of that gravity, and so operates on the cock or valve, and
indicates the amount of alcohol contained in the product, so that the attendant may
regulate the supply of steam or vapour accordingly.
I also apply this arrangement for the purpose of ascertaining when the still is
thoroughly exhausted of spirit by distillation in the following manner :-The lever
and float attached to the cock or valve is so arranged that when the spirit
in the still is entirely evaporated the increased gravity of the fluid by which the
float is actuated, raises it and opens the cock, whereby samples are taken and
subjected to the usual tests.
This arrangement is also of great value in preventing the surreptitious extract of
the spirit during distillation, by reudering it impossible to draw off anything but a
very weak, watery fluid, because the action of the float will not allow the cock or
valve to open, excepting when the greater part of the alcohol is exhausted.
Another part of my Invention consists in the application (by means of hot air or
steam, for example) of heat to the upper portion of the interior of still, which,
impinging upon the upper or alcoholic strata of the contents of the still, evaporates
'this portion without raising the temperature of the lower stratas, which, consisting
of first oil and then water underneath, give forth products injurious to the
pure spirit or essence when the heat is applied to the bottom of the still, and
driven up through the water and oils by the ebullition consequent on boiling from
the bottom.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Twentyman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
January 1878.
JOSEPH TWENTYMAN, Distiller, Glentarras Distillery, Langholm, N.B. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DISTILLATION AND APPARATUS USED IN THE PROCESS."
My Invention consists in the application of apparatus to ordinary and other stills
used in the manufacture of spirits and other essences, for the purposes of blending
and amalgamating the spirit and essences of various fluids and substances while in
a state of vapor; and is designed primarily for the softening, blending, and
mellowing of alcoholic products, instead of producing these results in the ordinary
manner, by the addition of water in a crude state, and is described as follows :--
To the ordinary spirit still I attach connections leading from an ordinary water
boiler or steam generator of suitable form. These connections form a communication
between the above-named steam generator and the spirit still, and are connected in
the following manner-The pipe leading from the steam generator to the spirit
still is attached to each vessel just above the charging lines, and is conveyed into
the worm of the spirit still, and carried over the goose neck of the still to any con-
venient length. A branch is also carried from this pipe and connected to the upper
part of the still (controlled by suitable valve or cock), and passing up inside,
joined to the first-named pipe. This branch pipe is perforated, so that by operating
upon the valve or cock, the vapor from the steam generator may be discharged
through the perforated branch when required, or entirely shut off, and the whole of
the vapor carried over the bend of the neck.
In order to more fully amalgamate and blend the different vapors, I sometimes
place an agitator in a chamber into which the vapors pass, and by the action of this
agitator, the vapors are thoroughly broken up and mixed before passing into the
condensing worm; and in order to regulate and control the action of this apparatus,
so that the attendant may increase or diminish the proportion of diluting vapor
when desired, I attach to the receiver of the products of distillation an apparatus
constructed in the following manner:-A very finely fitted cock or valve, having
attached to it a delicately balanced lever, having a float of copper, silver, or other
suitable material, is fitted inside a safe or receiver. This float is actuated by the
difference in the specific gravity of the liquids in which it floats and rises and falls
with the variation of the specific gravity, so operating on the cock or valve as to
indicate the amount of alcohol contained in the product, so that the attendant may
regulate the supply of steam or vapor accordingly.
I also apply this arrangement for the purpose of ascertaining when the still is
thoroughly exhausted of spirit by distillation in the following manner :-The lever
and float attached to the cock or valve are so arranged that when the spirit in the
still is entirely evaporated, the increased gravity of the fluid by which the float is
actuated, raises it and opens the cock, whereby samples may be taken and subjected
to the usual tests.
This arrangement is also of great value in preventing the surreptitious extract of
the spirit during distillation, by rendering it impossible to draw off anything but a
very weak, watery fluid, because the action of the float will not allow the cock or
valve to open, excepting when the greater part of the alcohol is exhausted.
Another part of my Invention consists in the application (by means of hot air
or steam, for example) of heat to the upper portion of the interior of the still,
which, impinging upon the upper or alcoholic strata of the contents of the still,
evaporates this portion, without raising the temperature of the lower stratas, which,
consisting of first oil and then water underneath, give forth products injurious to
the pure spirit or essence when the heat is applied to the bottom of the still, and
driven up through the water and oils by the ebullition consequent on boiling from
the bottom.

page_text: Having described the nature and object of the said Invention, I will now
proceed (aided by the accompanying Drawings) to more particularly describe
and ascertain the mode of carrying the same into effect, that is to say :-
Fig. 2, end elevation.
Fig. 3, ground plan..
In these Figures (1, 2, and 3) A represents the still; B, chamber, for amalga-
mating steam from boiler, and spirit vapor from still; C, paddles or agitators;
D, D, outlet pipe and mixing chamber; E, condensing chamber; F, hot air pipe;
G, inlet from steam boiler or generator.
Fig. 4, glass safe containing ball valve or cock, as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim,-
The improvements in distillation, substantially as herein-before described, whereby
the blending and amalgamating the spirit and essences of various kinds whilst in
a state of vapor can be effected, and so as to soften, blend, and mellow alcoholic
products.
Also, the construction (substantially as herein-before set forth and described, and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings) of the apparatus for effectuating the
herein-described process.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Twentyman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
FREDERICK MEDHURST,
Glentarras Distillery,
Langholm,
N.B.
JOSEPH TWENTYMAN. (L.S.)