IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF MEASURING OR ASCERTAINING THE QUANTITY OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES IN BRANDY, WINE, BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Waller, of London, but now
residing at Bonu, on the Rhine, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
Doctor of Medicine, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OF MEASURING OR ASCERTAINING THE QUANTITY OF ALCOHOL
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES IN BRANDY, WINE, BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
-A communication.
Sealed the 5th April 1853, and dated the 7th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Waller
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th October 1852.
I, AUGUSTUS WALLER, do hereby declare the nature of the said
5 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF MEASURING OR ASCER-
TAINING THE QUANTITY OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES IN BRANDY, WINE,
BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
The Invention is founded on the observation that vapours which are
formed from mixed fluids, such as water and alcohol, in vacuo, have a
tension at the boiling point of water which shews with precision the
proportions of the two liquids.

page_text: The apparatus consists of a wide glass cylinder A, Fig. 1, to which is
fitted at a, a doubly bent glass tube B. The cylinder A, is nearly filled
with mercury, and only at the upper part b, is found the liquid to be
tested. The method of filling the glass cylinder A, is shewn at Fig. 2.
In the first place the mercury is poured in up to a fixed point c, and
the liquid to be tested is poured upon the mercury. The hollow glass
stopper E, is then inserted, and the doubly bent glass tube B, is fixed
into the open mouth of A. The whole is then to be brought into the
position of Fig. 1, and, as this Figure shews, placed over a vessel for
boiling water C, made of iron or tin, &c. On this vessel, which is
partly filled with water which, by means of a spirit lamp placed under-
neath, is heated to the boiling point, is placed a double tin cylinder D,
in which the steam from the water passes first into the inner chamber,
from thence by an opening into the outer chamber, and finally escapes
below at d, into the open air. In this manner the liquid to be tested
at b, will be raised to the boiling point of water; and the vapour formed
at this temperature, pressing upon the mercury in the cylinder A, pushes
it into the glass tube e, to a height in proportion to the tension of the
vapour. On the long arm of the glass tube is found the divided scale,
the 0°, point of which corresponds to the state of the column of mercury
when the fluid in A, is distilled water, which indicates that the quick-
silver in A, and B, is on the same level. The divisions on the scale
are fixed by observing the tension of the vapours of water and pure
alcohol when mixed together in known proportions.
The apparatus may be applied to the following uses:-
1. For the determination of the quantity of alcohol contained in
brandy, gin, whiskey, rum, and all other spirituous liquors.
2. To determine the quantity of alcohol contained in wine or beer,
cider, and all liquids containing alcohol during and after their fer-
nientation. When absorbed carbonic acid is present in the fluid, this
may be removed by the addition of a small quantity of potash.
3. To determine the quantity of carbonic acid and other gases in
liquid substances, which gases, if in a state of combination, are to be
chemically liberated in the apparatus.
4. For determining the concentration of ammoniacal fluids and
various saline solutions.

page_text: 5. For determining the nature of different oils when mixed with any
particular liquids.
6. For determining the quantity of acetic acid and alcohol in the
fabrication of vinegar.
It is to be understood that the above described apparatus in its com-
pletion inay undergo various modifications. I will only mention here
those by which the liquid may be introduced by a glass tap into the
chamber. The 3rd Figure represents this construction.
For greater accuracy the variations in the temperature of the boiling
point are to be determined by fixing a thermometer in the cylinder D,
and the influence of these variations determined by tables calculated for
that purpose
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Augustus Waller in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 7th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
AUGUSTUS WALLER, of London, but now residing at Boun, on the
Rhine, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Doctor of Medicine, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Augustus Waller, Her especial license that I, the said Augustus
Waller, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Augustus Waller, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF MEASURING
OR ASCERTAINING THE QUANTITY OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES IN
BRANDY, WINE, BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS," upon the condition, amongst
others, that I, the said Augustus Waller, by an instrument in

page_text: writing under my hand and seal, 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 immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Augustus Waller, do hereby
declare that the nature of my said Invention consists in testing mix-
tures or liquids containing alcohol and other substances by placing
them in a barometric vacuum, and afterwards heating such mixtures
or liquids to the boiling point of water, so as to cause the expansion
thereof to act upon a column of mercury, and thereby to determine the
quantity of alcohol and other substances contained in such said mixture
or liquid. And in order to determine the exact proportion of alcohol
contained in such said mixture or liquid, the same may be effected by
ascertaining experimentally the height to which water and alcohol, when
mixed together in certain proportions, and heated to the temperature of
boiling water, are capable of raising a column of mercury; for example,
by determining the height to which mercury will rise in vacuo when
acted upon by a mixture or liquid containing 1, 2, 3, 4, or more parts
of pure alcohol mixed with one hundred parts of water. A graduated
scale may thus be formed, which will serve to determine and ascertain
with certainty the proportion of alcohol mixed with water in cases
where the strength cr relative quantities of each are unknown. And in
or.'er to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I will
proceed to describe the means by which the same may be carried into
practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked
thereon, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, exhibits an elevation, shewn partly in section, of an appa-
ratus or instrument to be employed for the purposes of this Invention.
Figure 2, is an elevation, of a modified form of construction, of the
above-mentioned apparatus or instrument. Figure 3, shews the mode

page_text: Fig. 1. At each of these Figures similar letters of reference are
employed to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear
or can be seen at each of the Figures respectively.
At Figures 1, and 3, A, A, marks a cylindrical shaped glass vessel
filled up to the point c, with mercury, as shewn at Figure 3. D), D, marks
a glass tube of about one quarter of an inch diameter, bent so as to have
two legs d, e. The upper part of the leg d, is formed taper, and is ground
into a corresponding hole in one end of the vessel A, so as to fit air-tight
therein, for the purpose of establishing a communication between the
said vessel and the tube D; and to the leg e, a graduated scale plate E,
is affixed in any convenient manner, to which plate is also affixed a
brass plate or slide G, in which are formed oblong holes or openings f.f;
and there is a circular neck or rim of metal H, soldered to the plate G.
through which the leg d, of the tube D, passes, as shewn at Figure 3.
I, marks a small cylindrical shaped vessel containing water; the upper
part of this vessel has holes or openings formed therein, similar to those
marked f, f, in the slide G; and there are two guide pieces g, fixed to
the top of the vessel I, between which the slide G, is guided and moves,
so as either to establish by means of the holes ff, in the slide G, the
communication between the vessel I, and another and compound vessel
marked K, which fits air-tight upon the neck or rim H. The vessel K,
is formed of two hollow cylinders of metal L, M, placed concentric to each
other, and closed at one end by a plate soldered thereto; the other end
of the inner cylinder M, is open, and fits air-tight over the neck or rim
H; and the cylinders L, and M, are connected together at this part by
soldering a short piece of tubing thereto. g, marks a short pipe soldered
to the cylinder M, for the purpose of establishing a communication
between the external atmosphere and the space between the two cylin-
ders L, and M. h, is a hole or opening formed near the top of the
inner cylinder M, for establishing a communication between the vessel
C, and the space between the two cylinders. N, marks a spirit lamp
for converting the water in the vessel C, into steam.
Having now described the arrangement and combination of parts
which compose the above mentioned apparatus or instrument, I will next
proceed to describe the modus operandi thereof, which is as follows:-

page_text: The mixture or liquid to be tested is poured into the open end of
the vessel A, A, upon the surface of the mercury contained therein,
the operator holding said vessel in one hand for that purpose, and
keeping it in that position until he inserts with the other hand the taper
part d, of the tube D, as shewn at Figure 3; he then turns the vessel
A, upside down, by which the mixture or liquid to be tested will be
displaced by the mercury, and be made to occupy the space above the
surface of the mercury, and between it and the closed end of the vessel
A. The operator then connects the slide G, to the top of the vessel I,
and converts the water therein into steam by means of the spirit lamp
O; and as steam is generated it rises through the openings into the
inner cylinder M, and passes from thence by the hole or opening H,
into the space between the cylinder L, and M, and passes from thence
by the pipe N, into the open air. By this means the temperature of
the mixture or liquid and the mercury are quickly raised to 112
degrees of Fahrenheit, when the expansion of the mixture or liquid
exerting pressure upon the surface of the mercury raises the mercury
in the leg e, of the tube D, the height to which it is raised being
indicated and ascertained by the numeral figures upon the graduated
scale, plate E. The arrangement and construction of the apparatus
or instrument exhibited at Figure 2, which is a modification of the one
lastly above mentioned, is as follows:-A, A, marks a glass vessel, the
lower part whereof is contracted, and is formed into a bent tube a, a,
and b, b. B, is a graduated scale plate, which is securely fixed to the
tube b, b, in any convenient manner.
The upper part of the vessel A, is also contracted, and is formed as
a tube with a cup c, at top thereof; this tube may. be formed of two
parts connected together by a piece d, in which a glass tap C, is ground
air tight; in other respects this apparatus or instrument is similar to
that before mentioned, and represented at Figures 1, and 3; according
to the arrangement lastly described the vessel is filled up to the point
e, with mercury from the cup c, through the tap C, and tube a;
and in like manner the mixture or liquid to be tested is admitted
into the vessel A, A, to be operated upon as before described with
reference to Figure 1.

page_text: I would here observe, that as the boiling point is liable to vary
according to the pressure of the atmosphere, I propose, in cases where
considerable accuracy is required, to introduce a thermometer into the
inner cylinder M, through the upper part of the steam cap, by which
the boiling point may be accurately determined, and the influence of an
increase or decrease of temperature may then be calculated by a
graduated scale constructed for the purpose.
To ascertain and determine the quantity of alcohol in beer and other
liquids containing carbonic acid gas, the carbonic acid should be
neutralised before testing, which may be effected by means of caustic
potash or powdered lime. And I desire it to be understood that the
above mentioned apparatus or instrument is also applicable to any and
every liquid containing volatile ingredients, such as liquids containing
prussic acid, hydrochloric acid, animonia, and acetic acid or vinegar;
and the quantity thereof may be measured, ascertained, and deter-
mined by the means herein-before particularly described, set forth, and
represented.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical
effect, I desire it to be distinctly understood, that I do not claim the
exclusive use of any of the separate parts above mentioned and referred
to, except in so far as the same may be employed in combination and
for the purposes of my said Invention; neither do I intend to limit or
confine myself to the precise mode herein set forth, of constructing the
apparatus or instrument which I propose to employ for the purpose of
effecting my said Invention; but reserve to myself such variations in
the forms of construction thereof as experience may suggest without
departing from the principle of my said Invention, which I hereby
declare to consist in, and I claim as my Invention of improvements in
the means of measuring and ascertaining the quantity of alcohol and
other substances contained in brandy, wine, beer, and other liquids;
the introducing of such said liquids into a barometic vacuum, and
subjecting them whilst there to the action of heat of the temperature
of boiling water, so as to cause them to expand and operate upon a

page_text: column of mercury in the manner herein-before particularly described,
set forth, and represented by the illustrative Drawing hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Augustus Waller, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
J. GOUCHÉ aîné,
5, Rue Corneille.
AUGUSTUS WALLER. (L.S.)