Am IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS, BY WHICH ALCOHOL FREE FROM FUSEL OIL IS PRODUCED BY A SINGLE DISTILLATION, ALSO INCLUDING AN IMPROVED DISTILLING APPARATUS ADAPTED THEREFOR, AND AN IMPROVED METHOD OF REDUCING THE PROOF OF SPIRITS IN ORDER TO PRODUCE WHISKEY
Year: 1874

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Robert Charles Brooks and Abraham Jacobus
Van Winkle, of San Francisco, State of California, in the United
States of America, for the Invention of “Am IMPROVED PROCESS FOR
THE DISTILLATION OF ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS, BY WHICH ALCOHOL FREE FROM
FUSEL OIL IS PRODUCED BY A SINGLE DISTILLATION, ALSO INCLUDING AN
IMPROVED DISTILLING APPARATUS ADAPTED THEREFOR, AND AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF REDUCING THE PROOF OF SPIRITS IN ORDER TO PRODUCE
WHISKEY,"
caled the 22nd January 1875, and dated the 8th December 1874.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Robert Charles Brooks
and Abraham Jacobus Van Winkle at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition and Declaration, on the
8th December 1874, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
CHARLES BROOKS and ABRAHAM JACOBUS VAN WINKLE, of San
Francisco, in the State of California, in the United States of America,.
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS we are in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PROCESS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS, BY WHICH ALCOHOL FREE
FROM FUSIL OIL IS PRODUCED BY A SINGLE DISTILLATION, ALSO INCLUDING AN
IMPROVED DISTILLING APPARATUS ADAPTED THEREFOR, AND AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF REDUCING THE PROOF OF SPIRITS IN ORDER TO PRODUCE WHISKEY," and have 5
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto us, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that we really believe ourselves to be the first and
true Inventors thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Robert Charles Brooks and 1
Abraham Jacobus Van Winkle, do hereby declare that the following
Complete Specification, under our hands and seals, fully describes the
nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, that is to say:-
Our Invention relates to an improved process for producing by a single 1
distillation alcoholic spirits which are free from ether and fusil oil, and
also in an improved apparatus or still for accomplishing said distillation,
which we call a "low temperature pulsating still."
Our improved process consists in a modification of the ordinary process
of fractional distillation, which is used by chemists in the analysis of 2
substances. This process we follow as far as it serves to eliminate the
ether and alcohol separately from the wort and still, but at this point we
diverge from the ordinary process of fractional distillation by allowing
the water and fusil oil to remain in the wort, and be withdrawn from the
still without being volatilized.
2
Ether, which is one of the volatile extracts of wort or the fermented
solution from which spirits are obtained, vaporizes at the low temperature
of one hundred and seventy-three (173°) degrees Fah., alcohol vaporizes
at one hundred and eighty-eight (188°) degrees Fah., and water at two
hundred and twelve (212°) degrees Fah., while fusil oil is not converted 3
into a vapor at a temperature less than about two hundred and sixty-
nine (269°) degrees Fah. These substances are the volatilizable portions
which are obtained from wort by heating it in a still, and as the alcohol
is the portion which it is desirable to obtain free from the remaining
volatile portions we take advantage of the difference or space of 3
temperature which exists between their vaporizing points to first
volatilize and eliminate the ether, both from the wort and still, and

page_text: vapors generated in the chambers will pass off as fast as they form, thus
allowing us to regulate the temperature at will.
Inside of the vessel P another vessel B is placed, the bottom of which
is connected with and secured to the bottom of the vessel P. Within
the vessel B is placed another vessel C which has a top, and the two
disks K, L, inside of it. E, E, are tubes (any number of which may be
used), the ends of which pass through the disk K, L, and connect the
space above K with the space below L. The pipe F, which connects
this separator with the upper chamber of the still, passes up through the
vessel B and opens into the space above the disk K. The vapor pipe,
marked 14, has one end connected with the top of the vessel B, and
passes thence to a heating vat or tub A which is situated at a short
distance from the still, and in this vat the pipe 14 is coiled around so as
to form a coil extending from the top to the bottom of the vat; thence
the pipe is led into a water tank, so as to discharge into the first low
wine tub H.
A pipe marked 1 connects the bottom of the heating vat A with the
upper chamber of the still for the purpose herein-after mentioned, a
valve marked 2 being arranged inside of the vat to close its end when it
is not required to be open.
The tank D is kept continually filled with water by means of a pump
or by water pressure through pipes (not shown). Near the upper end
of this tank is an overflow pipe marked 32, which connects with the
condensing and separating vessel P above the column, while an overflow
pipo marked 34 serves to preserve a uniform height of moving water in
the condenser and separator P. A pipe marked 25, the flow through
which is regulated by a cock marked 26, has one end connected with
the bottom of the outside separator vessel P, and thence leads down to a
vessel marked 27, and the bottom of this latter vessel may be connected
by a pipe 28 with the lower chamber of the still, if desired, or with any
other vessel, or a simple faucet or draw pipe may be used, through which
the condensed product can be removed entirely from the vessel.
•Having thus described the mechanical arrangement of our improved
still we will now describe its operation and manner of working.
The three chambers of the still having been properly charged with the
wort we also proceed to fill the vat A with wort, so that it may undergo

page_text: a preparatory heating previous to its being introduced into the still.
Now the tank D being filled with water, and the condenser and
separator P having also been filled through overflow pipe 32 so as to
establish a current of water through these vessels we introduce steam
into the lower chamber of the still at its bottom through the perforated
pipe 10. The steam will soon heat the charge of wort in the lower
chamber, and the vapors thus produced will pass up through the stand
pipes 12 into the chamber above. These stand pipes, as above described,
extend above the charge of wort, so that the heated vapors
in passing
into the chambers above will also dry heat the space above the wort.
As the steam or vapor passes upward it heats the wort in the chamber
above until the temperature of the wort in the uppermost chamber
reaches one hundred and seventy-three degrees Fah. At this tempera-
ture the ether in the wort is converted into vapor, and passes up into
the condensing and separating vessel P, where it comes in contact with
the cool pipes E, E, and is condensed so as to fall to the bottom of the
vessel, from whence it passes through the pipe 25 to the vessel 27. The
ether thus obtained and separated can be allowed to accumulate in the
vessel 27 through a number of distillations, and then be withdrawn from
the vessel entirely, and either run through the still to remove any trace
of alcohol which may have been carried along and condensed with it, or
run to waste, as convenient and most profitable.
Having got rid of the ether both from the wort and still we are now
free to increase the temperature of the wort in the chambers until it
reaches the volatilizing point of alcohol, which is one hundred and eighty-
eight degrees Falı. (188). At this temperature the alcohol vaporizes, and
passes into and through the separator P, which it will readily do, as the
previously condensed vapor of ether will have heated the water in the
separator vessel sufficiently to allow the alcoholic fumes to pass through
uncondensed. The alcoholic vapors then pass on through pipe 14 into
the vat or tub A, and thence through the coil so as to heat the charge of
wort in the vat to a preparatory temperature, thus converting the vat
into a fourth chamber of the still. Thence the vapors pass through
pipe 14 into the condenser or water tank D, where they are condensed,
and the condensed product conducted into the tub H.
The alcohol being the product which the still is intended to produce,
has now shtainal the

page_text: izing the water and fusil oil which it contains, we shut off the steam
from the heating chambers, and withdraw the spent charge from the
lower chamber of the still through the waste pipe 8. We then open
valve 5 so as to allow the charge in the second chamber of the still to
pass down into the first chamber. We then close valve 5, and open
valve 3; this allows the charge in the third chamber to pass into the
chamber below. We then close valve 3 and open valve 2 in the bottom
of vat A, so that the charge which has received the preparatory heating
may pass through pipe 1 into the upper or third chamber of the still,
and a fresh charge of wort is conducted into the vat A to be heated by
the steam, as previously described. During the short period of time
which is occupied in thus removing the spent charge from the lower
chamber, and transferring the charges in the upper chambers of the still,
the water has been continually running through tank D, thence through
pipe 32 into and through the separator P, so that by the time steam is
again turned into the still the temperature of the separator and tank will
be reduced to about one hundred and sixty-eight (168°) degrees Fah.,
and in the proper condition to again condense the vapors of ether which
are first volatilized. After the first charge has been heated to two
hundred (200°) degrees the temperature in the chamber of the still need
not be varied, but a constant heat should be maintained. The cold
water which runs through the separator vessel, and the new charge of
wort coming from the vat A will regulate the temperature sufficiently
to cause the desired pulsation. In this manner the distilling process is
continued, the temperature of the condensing apparatus pulsating
automatically with each fresh charge of wort, and the charge in the
lower chamber of the still being only withdrawn after each run.
For convenience in regulating the temperature we apply one or more
thermometers at convenient parts of the still. After obtaining the
product from the still we usually pass it through what we call a doubler.
This doubler is constructed in the same manner as the still, including
the separator and condenser. Instead therefore of using the doubler we
pass it again through the still; but this latter would necessitate the
discontinuance of the distillation of the wort in the meantime. By
this construction and arrangement we provide a distilling apparatus
which is automatic in its operation, and by means of which we are
enabled to separate products of different specific gravities singly and
without intermingling one with the other.

page_text: and distilling the alcoholic spirits without vaporizing or separating the
water and fusil oil from the wort, substantially as described.
Third. The column or still R consisting of two or more chambers in
combination with the condenser and separator P, vat A, and condensing
tank D, when combined and connected as described and arranged to
operate substantially as specified.
Fourth. The improvement consisting in extending the stand or in-
duction pipes 12 above the surface of the wort in the chamber of the
still, substantially as and for the purpose above described.
Fifth. A low temperature condensing tank or separator P constructed
as described, and located between the upper chamber of the still and the
main condenser D when provided with a draw off pipe, substantially as
and for the purpose above described.
•
Sixth. In combination with the condenser and separator P we claim
the pipe 25 and tank 27 for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The closed vat A having the main vat or pipe 14 coiled
inside of it, so that the vat will serve as a preparatory heating chamber
or fourth chamber of the still, and connected with the upper chamber
of the still by a conducting pipe 1, substantially as and for the purpose
above described.
Eighth. The pipes 4, 6", which connect the chambers of the still when
regulated by valves 3 and 5 in combination with vat A with its con-
ducting pipe 1 and its valve 2, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Ninth. The combination whereby we are enabled to automatically
regulate the temperature of our still by maintaining a current of water
through the condensers, the same consisting in the water tank D with
its overflow pipe 32, which leads into the condenser and separator P,
and also the separator overflow pipe 34, the temperature being rendered
automatic by the intermittent action of the still, substantially as specified.
Tenth. The improvement in distilling apparatus consisting in providing
pipes of sufficient size for the vapors to pass through freely without
creating a pressure in the body of the still, substantially as described.

page_text: Eleventh. The process of utilizing the low wines or third run of our
pulsating still for reducing the proof of our second run for the purpose
specified.
·
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Charles Brooks and
Abraham Jacobus Van Winkle, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witnesses,
(L.S.)
ROBERT CHARLES BROOKS.
ABRAHAM JACOBUS VAN WINKLE. (L.S.)
JOHN L. BOONE.
C. M. RICHARDSON.