AN IMPROVED METHOD OR METHODS OF DIMINISHING THE LOSS IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF ARDENT SPIRITS AND OTHER FLUIDS DURING THE PROCESSES OF DISTILLATION OR RECTIFICATION
Year: 1819

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13.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
Fox, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, Rectifier, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent 'under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of January' now last past, for Himself,
His heirs and' successors, did' give and grant unto me, the said James Fox,
His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the
said James Fox, my executors, administrators, and assigns, by myself and
themselves, or by my or their deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such
others as I, the said James' Fox, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agrée with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His said Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR METHODS
OF DIMINISHING THE LOSS IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF ARDENT SPIRITS AND
OTHER FLUIDS DURING THE PROCESSES OF DISTILLATION OR RECTIFICATION;" in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said James
Fox, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as by the said
Letters Patent, reference being thereto had, will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Fox, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention is as
follows:-
I, in a great degree, guard or protect ardent spirits, or other fluids, during
distillation or rectification, from exposure to the atmosphere, whereby a very
considerable diminution in the loss usually attendant on the distillation of
fluids, but more particularly of ardent spirits, is effected, and the strongest
and purest of the spirit is retained. And I further declare that the manner in
which the same is to be performed is described and ascertained by the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following description thereof:-
I affix or attach to, at, or near the lower extremity of the worm commonly
used in the distillation of fluids, a vessel (A, B, C, D, Fig. 1,) which I deno-
minate an encloser, made partly of glass or other sufficiently transparent
substance to afford a sight of the interior of the encloser to a person desirous
of looking through it from without. The front and sides of the encloser are
of glass, or such other transparent substance, and are carefully cemented into
rabbetts or grooves in its metallic or other framework (a, a, a, a, a, a, a,) so
as to prevent the admittance of air. The back (E), top (F), and bottom (G)
are of metal or other suitable material. (H) represents a tube which is
firmly fixed to the back (E), where the back is perforated, so as to allow of a
free communication with the interior of the encloser through the tube (H).
(I) is a flanch attached to or making part of the said tube, which tube should
be fixed at about six or eight inches above the bottom of the encloser.
(K, K,) is a section of a fly nut, which moves freely between the back (E)
and the flanch (I); that part only of it's interior, in which a female screw is
cut, as represented in the Drawing, is sufficiently large to allow of it's passing
over the flanch (I) without difficulty. Its interior diameter from L to L being
less than the external diameter of the flanch, the nut cannot be wholly removed
from the tube. (M) represents the lower part of a worm, such as is com-
monly used in distillation. See also M, Fig. 5. The worm being so well
known as constituting a part of the ordinary distilling apparatus, I deem
it unnecessary to describe it further, particularly as it forms no part of my
Invention. (N) is a male screw firmly fixed or soldered on to the worm at
or near it's lower extremity. The external diameter of this screw, and the size
of it's thread, should be such as will work well with that within the interior of

page_text: the fly nut (K, K). The extremity of the screw (N) at (O), as well as the
face of the flanch (I), should be made true, and a collar of leather attached to
it. If, therefore, the tube (H) be passed over the end of the worm (M) until
the flanch (I) approaches the end (O) of the screw (N), and if then the fly nut
be well screwed on to (N), the flanch (I) may be forced so tight against
the collar of leather at (0) as effectually to prevent the entrance of air. I,
mention this as one of the means I adopt of fixing the encloser to the worm
but I do not claim any exclusive right to such method, as it may be done by
any other means of making an air-tight joint, provided. such joint be of a
nature to admit of a ready means of occasional separation. (P) is a pipe or
tube made of metal or other suitable material. It is attached to the bottom
(G), forming a free communication with the interior of the encloser. (Q),
Fig. 2, is also a pipe or tube made of metal or other suitable substance, to
which stopcocks, as (b, c, d,) are fixed. These stopcocks I generally unite
by air-tight joints to the pipes usually laid down or fixed in still-houses for
the purpose of conveying spirit or other fluid into the backs or vessels pro->
vided for it's reception. In the Drawing, Fig. 2, these stopcocks are shewn'
as attached to a portion of such pipes at Y, Y, Y, but which pipes and backs
I do not claim as my Invention. The joints above mentioned may be either.
permanent or admitting of separation, but I prefer the former. The end (f)
of the pipe (P), Fig. 1, is made to fit into or be connected with the end (9) of
the pipe (Q), Fig. 2, and the joint made air-tight by any proper means. The
only use of this joint is to allow of the removal of the encloser from the stop-
cocks when occasion may require.
In the Drawings, Fig. 2 and 5, I have represented only three stopcocks,
but I do not confine myself to any particular number, as that must depend
upon the number of the backs or vessels to which the fluid is to be conveyed;
but as the pipes above referred to as being usually laid down in still-houses
commonly terminate at but a short distance within the backs or vessels (which
pipes and backs are represented in Fig. 5, Y, Y, Y, and Z, Z, Z), in such
cases I generally continue or extend these pipes down to near the lowest part
of the interior of the said backs or vessels, by which means the lower ends of
such pipes are immersed in fluid very soon after the commencement of the
operation of distillation; or I make the lower extremities of such pipes,
or of any other pipe or pipes, tube or tubes, which I may add to or use
with the said encloser, instead of the said fixed pipes, to terminate in
a separate small cistern made of metal or other suitable material, which
cistern or cisterns should be of sufficient capacity to contain enough fluid
above the lower extremities. of such pipes. or tubes as would be required

page_text: to fill such pipes or tubes to the altitude of from twelve to eighteen
inches. And if the cisterns are fixed above or without such vessels, I fix a
waste pipe, made also of metal or other suitable material, to each of such
cisterns above the level of such required quantity of fluid in them; which
waste pipes are for conveying the fluid which comes from the encloser into
such cisterns to the vessel or vessels provided for it's reception; or, if the
cisterns are fixed within such vessels, then the said waste pipes may be attached
to such cisterns, if desired, in order to conduct the fluid into any particular
part of such vessels. And I also sometimes fix or well fit to each cistern
which I may have occasion to use, a cover or lid, so as scarcely to allow of the
passage of air between such cover or lid and the top of the cistern to which it
may be fitted. A cock should be attached to the lowest part of the cistern, to
draw off all the fluid which would be in it after the operation of distillation is
concluded.
Fig. 3 and 4 represent a hydrostatic valve or valves, constructed of metal
or other suitable material, or wholly of glass or other transparent substance,
or partly of glass or other transparent substance, and partly of metal or other
suitable material.. Those shewn in the Drawings Fig. 3 and 4 are made of
glass and metal, which I prefer, as being less liable to receive injury than if
made wholly of glass or any other brittle material. (R) represents a glass
vessel open at top and bottom; (h) is a metallic or other tube, with funnell or
other mouth (m) open to the atmosphere, and is firmly cemented to the top
edge of (R), so as to form it's neck. It is manifest that this tube and the
vessel (R) might be one piece if thought desirable. The bottom edge of (R)
is cemented or otherwise fixed to the top of the hollow stand, chamber, or
bed (U, U, Fig. 3), made of metal or other suitable material, between two
concentric rims or rings (e, e), also made of metal or other suitable material,
and which are well fixed by solder or otherwise to the top of the said stand
(U, U); the top of the stand therefore becomes the bottom of the vessel (R).
(S, S,) is a vessel or tube of glass or other transparent substane, or of metal
or other suitable material, also cemented or otherwise firmly fixed to the bed
(U, U); an opening is made in the bed immediataly under the vessel (R),
as shewn at (r), also another under the tube (S); but this latter opening is
not shewn in the Drawings. A pipe or tube, of any required shape or
construction, is formed and fixed from (r) to (S), made of metal or other
suitable material, as represented by the dotted lines (u) in Fig. 3, and more
distinctly shewn at (u) in Fig. 4, which Figure is a representation of the
same kind of valve without the hollow stand or bed U, U, Fig. 3; the vessel
(R) in this case having a bottom either of metal or other suitable material

page_text: attached to it instead of the stand, chamber, or bed (U, U, Fig. 3). I prefer
the stand for neatness of appearance, and admitting of a stronger means of
fixing the valve; or I sometimes fix the vessel (R) to the top of the encloser
itself, whereby the top of the encloser becomes the bottom of the vessel (R).
It is always desirable that the bottom of the vessel (R) should be made
nearly level. T, T, Fig. 3, is also a pipe, tube, or vessel, made of metal or
other suitable material, one extremity of which is attached to the tube (S),
near which it's diameter may be enlarged if desired; the other end passes
through the bed (U, U), so that if air be blown into the upper extremity (m)
of the vessel (R) it will pass down (h) into (R), thence through the pipė or
tube (u) into (S), up (S) into and down (T) and escape at (V); consequently,
if the end (V) of the tube (T) be put through the hole (n) in the top (F),
Fig. 1, and firmly secured there by solder, luting, or otherwise, and air be
blown in at (m) as before, it will escape from (V) into the interior of the
encloser, and if then, whilst the valve is affixed to the top of the encloser, tho
tube (H, Fig. 1,) be closed, and you blow into the end (f) of the pipe (P);
the air will escape at (m, Fig. 3); but if enough water or other fluid be
poured into the vessel (R) it will fill the pipe or tube (u), which connects the
interiors of R and S, and will obtain the the same level in both; consequently
no air can pass from R to S until it has pressed on the surface of the fluid in
the vessel R with a power sufficient to drive the fluid out of R into S. The
power required to do this would depend upon the altitude to which S would
be filled before the fluid is driven out of R. It is evident, therefore, that the
operation of this valve depends on the relative areas of R and S: for if we
suppose the area of R to be ten square inches, and that of S to be but one
inch, and the altitude of fluid in both when at rest to be half an inch, and we
blow into (m), we must exert a power sufficient to sustain rather more than
an altitude of ten inches of fluid in the vessel (S) before any air can pass;
but if, on the contrary, air be blown in at V, it will press on the surface of the
fluid in S, which being but an area of one inch and an altitude of half an inch,
it can add but very little to the altitude of the fluid in the vessel (R), and
consequently offer but little resistance to the passage of air in that direction.
I have generally found that the areas of the vessels (R and S) answer well
when their ratios are to each other as ten to one, but I by no means confine
myself to these proportions, as I vary them according to circumstances,
sometimes making the areas of R and S equal to each other; but this I do
not recommend for general purposes, as the resistance to the admission or
escape of air would in such case be equal and might injure the luting at the
still-head, or cause a more serious accident. In all cases it is desirable

page_text: that the areas of the tubes or vessels of which the valve is composed
should be large enough to permit the free escape of the air which is always
discharged or expelled from the still and worm on the first rising of the
steam or vapour; consequently the larger the distilling apparatus to which
this valve may be applied, or with which it may be used, the greater should
be the areas of the valve; or an additional opening may be made in any
convenient part of the encloser or distilling apparatus, to give greater facility
to the escape of the air, which opening must be closed immediately after the
air is expelled by any well-known ready means of making it air-tight.
I deem it unnecessary to describe a still and worm, although I have
frequent occasion to mention them in this Specification, as I consider all to
whom this Patent refers have a perfect knowledge of such apparatus, as they.
are common to still-houses in general.
The valve should be quite emptied of fluid previously to the commence-
ment of distillation, for the easily doing which I sometimes make an
aperture (W, Fig. 3 and 4,) at or near the lowest part of the tube or
vessel (S) or tube (u), to which aperture a plug may be fitted or a cock
attached. I prefer the latter. The aperture only is shewn (in Fig. 3
and 4), but a cock, as being most convenient, at (p) Fig. 5. (x), Fig. 3
and 4, is a waste pipe, open at both ends, which I sometimes use for
carrying off any superfluous water with which the valve may be charged
by the carelessness of the attendant. It's upper extremity is placed within the
vessel (R) at such height above its bottom as may be necessary to regulate the
resistance to the escape of air through the valve, which in practice I have
varied according to circumstances, but have generally found from half an
inch to an inch to answer well. This tube or pipe passes through the bottom
of the vessel (R), where the bottom should be secured from leaking by solder
or any other proper means, and terminates at (y), where a cock may be fixed;
or it may, if desired, be continued to any convenient distance for the discharge
of the fluid, so that it is impossible for the valve, when this sort of waste pipe
is attached to it, to remain overloaded. I have described this valve as attached
to the vessel or encloser, as shewn in Fig. 5, but I reserve to myself the right
of fixing it in any manner to any part of the encloser or on any part of a
distilling apparatus, provided that end of the valve corresponding to that
which is described by the letter V, in Fig. 3 and 4, is made to communicate
freely with the interior of the encloser or distilling apparatus, and that the
other end of such valve, described by the letter (m), shall be open to the.
atmosphere. Should the valve be fixed to any other part of the encloser or
distilling apparatus than it is represented to be in Fig. 5, then the hole (n),

page_text: Fig. 1, must be stopped, and one must be made at such place as may be pre-
ferred. And I hereby declare that, although I do not lay claim to the
invention of applying hydrostatic pressure as an air valve, yet I claim the
exclusive right of applying to the purpose or purposes herein specified a
bydrostatic valve of the general construction above described, without confining
myself to the precise forms, shapes, or proportions of the individual parts
thereof, as exhibited in the Drawings. The use of the hydrostatic valve is to
oppose considerable resistance to the entrance of air into the encloser, or any
part of the worm or still, but to allow of the escape of any air which may
improperly get into the interior by means of any defect in a joint or other-
wise, which will sometimes occur, and which, in case of a sudden generation
of steam, might be expelled so rapidly as to endander the lifting of the still-
head, were not a safe means of escape provided for it. It also permits the
ready escape of any gas which may be generated or extricated in the wash-
still. But I do not mean to confine myself to the use of hydrostatic valves
only, as any other valve or valves for regulating the entrance and escape of air
may be used, which valves should be affixed either to the encloser or to the
worm or still, as may be preferred, and in such way as to communicate freely
with the interior of that part of the apparatus to which such valve or valves
may be attached. The valves, whichever sort is used, may be fixed either in
a permanent manner, or so as to admit of occasional removal.
(X), Fig. 1, is an aperture in the bottom (G) of the encloser, to which
aperture a plug may be fitted or a cock fixed. I prefer the latter, as being
most convenient; it is shewn at X, Fig. 5. Its use is to draw off a sample of
the fluid then issuing from the worm during any part of the operation of dis-
tillation. It may be fixed to any part of the pipe P, Fig. 1 and 5, if preferred.
In the Drawings Fig. 1 and 5, I have represented the enloser as being nearly a
parallelopepidon in shape, but I do not confine myself to the use of that form
only, as the form or figure of it may be varied according to pleasure, or as
circumstances may point out. But I prefer this as being easy of construction
and readily repaired in case of accident, and as admitting quite sufficient light
for the attendant on the still to see the size of the stream of fluid as it issues
from the worm, by which alone he is in the practice of judging of the proper
regulation of the fire under the still.
The Drawing Fig. 5 represents the apparatus as in use, attached to the
worm by a fly nut and screw' (K, N), and to the pipe Q, to which the stop-
cocks commanding the pipes which lead to the backs are attached. Pre-
viously to the rising of the steam or vapour in the still, it is necessary to draw
off all the fluid from the hydrostatic valve through the aperture (W, Fig. 3

page_text: and 4), or cock (p), Fig. 5. The cock X, Fig. 5, may also be opened to give
additional facility to the escape of the air, which passes out with some violence;
as soon, however, as the air is expelled the cocks X and (p) should be closed,
and the valve charged with it's proper quantity of fluid. If at this moment
the lower extremity of the pipes which lead into the different backs, and which
are attached to the stopcocks (b, c, d), should happen to be immersed in fluid,
and all the joints well secured, it is manifest no air can get into the interior of
the encloser but through the valve; and if the valve be constructed in the
manner I have most strongly recommended, it can then only enter after
having exerted considerable force; but if any air should have entered by
small cracks in the luting of the still, or otherwise, and be suddenly expelled
by a rapid generation of steam or vapour, occasioned perhaps by stirring the
fire under the still, it can readily escape through the valve without having in
any way endangered the lifting of the still-head or cracking of the luting.
So delicate is the operation of this valve that it will immediately give notice
of the admission of air through any the smallest leak in the still-head or
joints of the apparatus itself, by the escape of such air through the valve
attended with noise. This valve then renders the encloser perfectly safe, even
when used with the largest stills, from which circumstance we may without
hazard employ it to effectually diminish the loss occasioned by unnecessary
exposure of the fluid to the atmosphere during it's passage from the still to
the vessels provided for it's reception. In the Drawing. Fig. 5, the stop-
cock (d) is represented as open, (b and c) as shut, consequently the stream of
fluid (s), shewn as falling from the end of the worm into the encloser, passes off
through the pipe (P) and stopcock (d) into the back No. 3; but if it be
desired to convey it into either of the backs No. 1 or 2, the stopcock (d)
must be shut, and that cock opened which leads to the back intended to
receive it. Each of these stopcocks should be marked with a number cor-
responding to that of the back to which it belongs; and to prevent the cocks
from injury, accidental turning, or depredation of workmen, they may, if
desired, be enclosed as represented by the dotted lines Fig. -2. If it be
wished to draw off a sample of the spirit or other fluid under distillation, all
the stopcocks (b, c, d), Fig. 5, must be closed, when the fluid will rise in the
encloser as high as the aperture X; cand any. quantity may be drawn off
through the cock which is placed there: When enough is drawn off, that
stopcock which leads to the proper back must be again opened, and the cock
at X be shut as before; or the pipe P may be encircled by a larger pipe
extending from the bottom of the encloser (to which it must be attached) to
about four or six inches down the pipe P, at which place it should be securely

page_text: fixed, so that if a fluid be placed between them, so as to form a zone round
the pipe P, it cannot escape from between the two pipes; but in this case I
fix a cock to the outer pipe, through which the zone of fluid may be drawn off
without stopping either of the cocks (b, c, d, Fig. 5). The bottom of the
encloser must be perforated with holes, or be otherwise open immediately over
the space
between the two pipes above mentioned, in order that the fluid (S)
which falls from the worm may run into the space so formed, so that when
the zone is full, the whole of the stream (S) will flow into the pipe P, as
before described.
And I hereby further declare, that I do claim the exclusive right of using
such vessel or encloser of any required form or shape in all cases where au
attached pipe and hydrostatic or other valve are used for the purpose or pur-
poses herein-before expressed. But I do not claim the invention of a vessel
made partly of metal and glass (not being air-tight, and connected with a
pipe, as herein-before specified), or of pipes, tubes, or cocks, the same being
well known in themselves, but I claim the arrangement, combination, and
application thereof in connection with, or addition to, the hydrostatic or other
valves herein-before described, constituting together an apparatus (which I
designate "Fox's Distiller's Economist") whereby I more safely and effectually
guard or protect ardent spirits and other fluids from the evaporation conse-
quent on their exposure to the atmosphere during the processes of distillation or
réctification than has hitherto been practised in distillation by still and worm,
whilst at the same time I give to the operator, as well as to the officers
employed under Government, a great facility for observing the size of the
stream of fluid as it issues from the worm, as well as for examining such
fluid in order to ascertain it's quality or strength, and finally, for conveying
it with safety, still unexposed to the external air, into the pipes usually laid
down in still-houses for conducting it into the backs or vessels provided for its
reception, or, in some cases, direct into vessels themselves. And I do further
claim the exclusive right of applying the apparatus herein described, and for
which I have obtained His Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, unto any con-
trivance for condensing the gaseous products of distillation besides the common
worm, by attaching it to that part thereof where the fluid is collected and
received.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Fox, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and nineteen.
JAMES FOX. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-eighth day July, in
the year above mentioned, the aforesaid James Fox came before our Lord
the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And also
the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute
in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year above
written.