CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND RECTIFYING,
Year: 1847

page_text: BLYTH, BLYTH, & MCCULLOCH'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, JOHN BLYTH
and ALFRED BLYTH, both of the Parish of Saint Anne's, Limehouse, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineers, and JOHN MCCULLOCH, of Masemore
Cottages, Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS we did, by Petition, humbly represent unto Her present most
Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, that we had invented "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING AND RECTIFYING," and Her said Majesty
being willing to give encouragement to all arts and inventions which may be
for the public good, was graciously pleased, by Her Royal Letters Patent
under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
bearing date at Westminster, the Ninth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and forty-seven, in the eleventh year of Her reign, for Ier-
self, Her heirs and successors, to give and grant unto us, the said John
Blyth, and Alfred Blyth, and John McCulloch, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that we or they, by ourselves or themselves, or by our or their deputies,
servants, or agents, or such others as we or they should agree with, and
no others, during the term of fourteen years. from the date of the said
Letters Patent, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend our
said Invention within that part of Her said Majesty's Dominions called
England, Her Dominion of Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, in such manner as to us, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, shall seem meet, and as that we or
they shall enjoy the whole profit and advantage arising by reason of our

page_text: said Invention during the said term of fourteen years; and whereas the said
Letters Patent contain a proviso obliging us, the said John Blyth, and Alfred
Blyth, and John McCulloch, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature
of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by
an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and
seal of one of us, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same (reference
being thereunto had) will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Alfred Blyth, for myself, and on behalf of the said John Blyth and John
McCulloch, do hereby declare that our said Invention is described and
ascertained in manner following, and by the aid of the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Our said Improvements in Apparatus for Distilling and Rectifying are
adapted for performing the two succeeding operations of distilling and rectify-
ing in one apparatus, by a process which is continuous and uninterrupted from
the time of charging the apparatus with a charge of the liquid that is to be
distilled until such charge has undergone both the operations of distilling and
rectifying, without requiring much more manipulation on the part of the
attendants or a much greater expenditure of heat for the two operations than
is usually required for the first of those operations alone, in the ordinary mode
of performing them as distinct operations, following one after the other. The
operations of distilling and rectifying are performed (according to that ordinary
mode) in a very similar manner, one to the other, for both are distilling opera-
tions but performed in succession; rectifying being in fact distilling over again
some liquid which has been obtained by a preceeding operation of distilling, but
which liquid has not been thereby so completely separated from impurities as
is desired, and therefore it requires rectifying or distilling over again for the
more complete separation of such impurities. According to part of our said
improvements, such rectifying or distilling over again is to be performed by
means of a rectifying still, situated above (and it may be within) the upper
part of the principal still by which the operation of distilling is performed (or
is in progress of being performed), that principal still being charged with
a suitable quantity of the liquid that is to be distilled, and heated by fire
applied beneath and around the lower part of it, in the usual manner of
ordinary stills; or the said principal still may be heated by steam, and in the
progress of so distilling the vapour which ises from the charge of liquid
contained in the lower part of that principal still, ascends towards the upper

page_text: part thereof in the usual manner; and such vapour will act beneath the bottom
of the said upper, or inner, or rectifying still, when so ascending, and before
passing away into the usual worm pipe, wherein the said vapour is to be so far
cooled as to become condensed into liquid, which will be impure spirit, and
will run down into the interior of the rectifying still, for the supply thereof,
whilst the said liquid is in a very warm state. The arrangement being such
as that all the heat requisite for performing the rectifying of the liquid so
supplied to the rectifying still will be communicated thereto (and to the liquid
therein contained) by the said vapour when so acting beneath the bottom of
that still, the said liquid contained therein being, as already mentioned, impure
spirit, which has been previously (but only very recently) condensed into liquid
in the worm pipe, and supplied therefrom to the rectifying still in a very warm
state as aforesaid; and in the act of thus communicating heat to the rectifying
still the said vapour will be in part condensed into liquid drops beneath the
bottom of that still, which drops will fall down therefrom and return into liquid
in the lower part of the principal still, so that the liquid in the said drops will
become mixed again with the liquid from which it had just before ascended in
the state of vapour. And that part of the vapour which will be so con
densed in communicating heat to the rectifying still will be the least spiritous
and most impure part of the vapour which rises from the liquid in the
lower part of the principal still, but the remainder of the vapour which
is not so condensed will be the most spiritous and pure part of the
vapour, and it is the latter part alone which will ascend into the; uppermost
part of the principal still, so as to pass away from the highest part thereof into
the upper end of the worm pipe belonging to the said still; which worm pipe
may be of the usual kind, but it may be surrounded with liquid which is to
be distilled in the principal still at the next time of charging the same, and.
which liquid in a cold state is contained in the said worm tub, instead of cold
water being contained therein, and in descending through the coils of that worm
pipe the vapour is so far cooled as to become condensed into liquid, which will be.
impure spirit; and that liquid runs in a very warm state from the lower end of
the worm pipe and descends through a suitable conveyance pipe into the recti-
fying still, which is thus supplied and kept supplied with the liquid impure spirit
that is to be immediately afterwards rectified by means of the heat which is.
communicated to the rectifying still by condensation (in manner aforesaid) of
the least spiritous and most impure part of the vapour which rises from the
iquid at the lower part of the principal still. And the heat which is so com-
municated to the said liquid which is thus supplied to the rectifying still will.
cause the most spiritous and pure part of that liquid to be converted by degrees.

page_text: into vapour, which will ascend within the said rectifying still to the highest part
thereof, and from thence will pass away into the upper end of another worm
pipe which may be in a separate worm tub, containing other cold liquid or cold
water, or both worm pipes may be included in the same worm tub already
mentioned; in either case, the said vapour in descending through the coils of
the said other worm pipe belonging to the rectifying still will become effectually
cooled so as to become condensed into liquid spirit, which is also cooled to a
sufficiently cool state for being stored in the usual manner of rectified spirit,
and will be of great purity and strength. The heat, which is communicated by
vapour in manner aforesaid to the liquid within the rectifying still, is so mode-
rate that it will only cause the most spiritous and pure part of that liquid to be
converted into vapour, leaving all the unspiritous and most impure part of the
said liquid in the lower part of the rectifying still, and accumulating there
towards the latter end of the operation, by which time all the spiritous part will
have been extracted from the liquid in the lower part of the principal still by
distilling over into the rectifying still (in manner aforesaid) the whole of the
said spiritous part; and also it cannot be avoided that some of that part which
is not spiritous will have been distilled over in continuing the operation as long
as must be done in order to ensure that the whole of such spiritous part shall
have been extracted, so as to leave the liquid remaining at the lower part of
the principal still without spirit, and in the state of spent liquid. The opera-
tions of distilling and rectifying one charge of the principal still being thus
completed, the said spent liquid is then to be drawn off from the said lower
part of the principal still, so as to empty the same in readiness for being
charged anew with fresh liquid, which may be done by letting down from the
upper part of the first-mentioned worm tub belonging to the principal still a
suitable quantity of the liquid contained therein, and which liquid will have
become warmed in consequence of having surrounded the uppermost part of
the worm pipe belonging to the principal still. The lower part of the principal
still will by that means become charged with liquid in a warm instead of a
cold state, and therefore so much the more ready for being distilled; also the
liquid remaining in the lower part of the rectifying still (or any desired portion
thereof) may be let down in its warm state into the lower part of the principal
still, so as to mix with the warm liquid which is at the same time let down
therein from the upper part of the worm tub, as already stated, and from those
sources the principal still can be charged anew with liquid in a warm state,
which is then to be distilled and rectified in the same manner as already
described respecting the preceding charge. But note, after the liquid in the
rectifying still has accumulated to a suitable depth therein, towards the latter

page_text: part of the aforesaid distilling and rectifying operation, all further accumulation
of the liquid may be avoided by means of an overflow pipe, which may be pro-
vided for conveying the liquid down into the lower part of the principal still, so as
to retain the accumulation of liquid to a suitable depth within the rectifying still,
but not to allow it to exceed that depth. In such case that depth may remain
in the rectifying still by way of a part of a charge for that still, at the com-
mencement of a succeeding operation of distilling and rectifying; or any portion
of the said depth that may be preferred may be let down into the lower part of
the principal still; or the whole may be let down if preferred, in which case
the rectifying still will be empty, or nearly so, at the commencement of the
operation, but during the progress of the operation it will receive distilled liquid
(which is spirit in an impure and weak state) as fast as the same issues in a
warm state from the lower end of the worm pipe belonging to the principal
still. But the rectifying still may, if desired, be partially charged with any
suitable infusion of herbs, or with alkali dissolved in water, or with other liquid
or matter which it may be thought desirable to use in rectifying, such partial
charge being introduced into the rectifying still immediately after the liquid
which it contained (or the greater part thereof) was let down, as aforesaid, into
the principal still. The worm tub for the worm pipe belonging to the prin-
cipal still is filled up again with cold liquid introduced by a suitable pipe into
the lowest part of that worm tub, so as to replace the quantity of liquid which
has been let down as aforesaid from the upper part of the said worm tub into
the lower part of the principal still for charging the same. And note, the
upper part of the worm tub for the worm pipe of the principal still should
be covered over with a close cover, from which a pipe proceeds to convey
away any spiritous vapour that may arise from the liquid contained in the
upper part of the said worm tub, when that liquid becomes warmed in conse-
quence of surrounding the worm pipe, as already stated. Such spiritous
vapour may be conveyed by a suitable pipe into the worm pipe belonging to
the rectifying still, or else into a small worm pipe surrounded by cold water, so
as in either case to condense the said vapour into liquid spirit. The two
operations of distilling and rectifying will be performed, according to this part
of our improvements, with great advantage over the ordinary mode of distilling
and rectifying at distinct operations, for the following reasons:-The rectify-
ing still causing a condensation of part of the vapour which rises from the
liquid in the lower part of the principal still, and the vapour so condensed
being, as already stated, the least spiritous and most impure part of the whole
of the vapour, the remaining vapour which escapes that condensation and
passes over into the worm pipe belonging to the principal still will be so much

page_text: the more spiritous and pure, and when condensed into liquid spirit in the said
worm pipe, and run down therefrom in a warm state for the supply of the
rectifying still, that warm spirit will be so much the more pure than it would
be in the common way of distilling from the same kind of liquid as is con-
tained in the lower part of the principal still, inasmuch as the said condensation
of vapour by the rectifying still will have separated the least spiritous and most
impure parts, and returned the same into the liquid at the lower part of the
principal still; also the said spirit which is so supplied to. the rectifying still is
in a very warm state, and therefore requires so much the less time and heat to
be expended in rectifying it than is the case in the ordinary mode of rectifying
at a distinct operation, when the rectifying still must be charged with spirit in a
cold state, and which cold spirit will be in a less pure state, and therefore less
easily rectified than is the case according to this part of our improvements,
for the reason already stated; and also, in consequence of the moderate heat
which is communicated to the said warm liquid spirit (that is supplied to and
contained in the rectifying still) in the act of the aforesaid condensation of the
least spiritous and most impure part of the vapour arising from the liquid
in the lower part of the principal still, the rectifying of the said liquid spirit in
the rectifying still will be more completely performed than by the ordinary
mode of rectifying at a distinct operation in a rectifying still, heated by fire or
by steam heat; because, according to this part of our improvements, only the
most spiritous and pure part of the liquid in the rectifying still will by that
moderate heat be converted into vapour, so as to pass over into the worm pipe
of that still to be therein condensed into rectified spirit; but nevertheless that
moderate heat is sufficient for effectually rectifying owing to the concurrent
circumstances that the liquid or impure spirit which is to be rectified is intro-
duced into the rectifying still in a very warm state, also that it is introduced
therein by degrees as fast as it issues from the lower end of the worm pipe
belonging to the principal still, but no faster, and also that being in a more pure
state it is so much the more easily rectified; likewise, according to this part of
our improvements, the two operations of distilling and rectifying are performed
more completely, and in the same time, and with scarcely any more manipula-
tion than that which would be required for distilling only, in the common way
of distilling and rectifying at distinct operations.
This part of our improvements is applicable to apparatus for distil-
ling and rectifying alcoholic spirit of all kinds, whether such spirit is to
be obtained from fermented wash made with malt or grain, or with sugar,
or molasses, or beetroot, or any mixtures of those or other fermentable
materials, or whether such spirit is to be obtained from wine or wine lees, or

page_text: from any other liquid from which alcoholic spirit can be obtained by distilling
and rectifying. And this part of our improvements is equally applicable to
apparatus for distilling and rectifying any alcoliolic spirit which is too impure
or weak for the particular use which is intended to be made of it, and therefore
requires further distilling and rectifying in order to separate it from the impu-
rities, and give it greater alcoholic strength; for instance, distilling and rectify-
ing rum, whiskey, raw spirit, gin, brandy, or any other alcoholic spirit, t.
obtain strong and pure alcoholic spirit, such as is commonly called spirits
of wine; and if requisite for making the very strongest and purest spirits
of wine, the aforesaid operation of the apparatus constructed according
to this part of our improvements may be repeated by distilling and
rectifying over again therein that spirit which has been previously dis-
tilled and rectified therein. And this part of our said iniprovements is
also applicable to apparatus for distilling and rectifying liquid naptha which is
obtained from the coal tar produced in manufacturing gas for illumination.
Such tar, being coarsely distilled by the ordinary mode of distilling, yields a
very coarse liquid naptha, which requires repeated distilling and rectifying; and
those operations will be most effectually performed by an apparatus constructed
according to this part of our improvements as herein-before described. And
the same may be said of distilling and rectifying spirits of turpentine, or 'other
spirits or essential oils which, although not alcoholic spirits, may be distilled
and rectified in a similar manner to alcoholic spirits.
And for more complete explanation of this part of our improvements,
an apparatus constructed according thereto is' represented in Figure 1 of the
Drawing hereunto annexed, that Figure being a vertical section taken through
the centre of the principal still and of the upper or rectifying still; both stills
being of a circular form horizontally, and each still being concentric around
the same vertical central line.
A, A, Figure 1, is the lower part of the principal still, into which, at the con-
mencement of each operation of distilling and rectifying, the wash or liquid that
is to be distilled is charged through the pipe and stopcock a, a, when that cock
is opened. b, b, b, b, is the upper part of the principal still, which rises up to a
considerable height with a small globular head at top, from which head the
trunk c proceeds, inclining downwards in order to convey vapour to the upper
end of the worm pipe which is within a worm tub C, so as to be surrounded by
a cold liquid wherewith that tube is kept filled up, and which, according to the
Drawing, is to be the same kind of liquid wherewith the still A, A, is to be
charged at the next time of charging the same; but the worm tub C might
be kept filled up with cold water. B, B, d, d, is the rectifying still which,

page_text: according to the Drawing, is disposed within the upper part of the principal
still A, A, b, b, (and is somewhat similar in form but smaller in size,) so as to
leave a narrow space i, b, d, i, b, d, all round between the two stills for the
passage of ascending vapour; the bottom h, h, of the rectifying still B is
sufficiently high above the surface of the liquid in the lower part of the
principal still A to leave ample space for vapour as well as for any frothy
boiling up of the said liquid that may take place. The vapour, in ascending
from the liquid in the principal still A, will act beneath the bottom h of the
rectifying still B, so as to communicate heat thereto and to the liquid con-
tained in the rectifying still B; but all the heat which is so communicated
will be attended with a corresponding condensation of part of the said vapour
into liquid, which part will be precipitated beneath the bottom h, so as to form
drops of liquid which will fall down into the liquid beneath at the lower part
of the principal still A, A, and that part of the vapour which is thus condensed
and precipitated will be the least spiritous and most impure part of the
whole vapour; but the remainder of the vapour which escapes such condensa-
tion and ascends in the space i, b, d, i, b, d, between the upper parts of the two
stills, will be the most spiritous and pure part of the whole vapour; and it is
that part which will ascend to the globular head at top, and pass by the trunk
c to the upper end of a worm pipe in the worm tub C belonging to the prin-
cipal still A; and the said vapour in descending through that worm pipe will
be so much cooled as to be condensed into liquid spirit, which will run out in
a very warm state from the lower end of the said worm pipe into what is
called a safe, G, and therefrom by the pipe g into the lower part of the
rectifying still B, so as to supply the same and keep it supplied with the liquid
spirit which is to be rectified by operation of that still, that liquid spirit being so
supplied in a very warm state. The heat which is communicated to the recti-
fying still B (from the aforesaid condensation of the least spiritous and most
impure part of the vapour which arises from the liquid in the principal still A),
though a very moderate heat is sufficient to convert the most spiritous and pure
portion of the liquid contained in the rectifying still B into vapour; and the said
vapour ascends within the upper part d, d, of the rectifying still B to a small
globular head at the top thereof, and thence by the trunk n, n, in an inclining
direction to the upper end of another worm pipe, which is contained within ano-
ther worm tub C, which belongs to the rectifying still B, and the said worm
tub C¹ may be filled with cold water. The said vapour in descending from n, n,
through the said worm pipe belonging to the rectifying still B, becomes cooled
and condensed into liquid spirit, which runs out from the lower end of that worm
pipe into another safe H, from which the spirit may run down through the pipe p

page_text: to the upper end of another worm pipe which is surrounded by cold water in
the worm tub D, and in descending through the last-mentioned worm pipe
the spirit becomes so effectually cooled that when it runs out from the lower
end of the said worm pipe at 7 it will be fit for being stored in the usual
manner of highly rectified and pure spirit; for the spirit will be of great purity
and strength, although it has only undergone one operation of distilling and
rectifying in passing once through the apparatus in manner already described.
Note, R, in Figure 1, is the overflow pipe herein-before mentioned through
which liquid can overflow freely out of the rectifying still B after such liquid
has accumulated to a suitable depth therein, the liquid which overflows
descending into the lower part of the principal still A. The upper end of the
pipe R is open, and stands up to the intended height above the bottom h of
B; and the lower end of R is immersed beneath the surface of the liquid in
A to prevent any passage of vapour up the pipe R; and there is a stopcock
(not shewn in the Drawing) which, being opened, will let down into the lower
part of the principal still A the whole of the liquid in the rectifying still B, so
as to empty the latter; or any desired portion of the said liquid may be so let
down the handle of that cock must come through it to the outside, and S is.
a large pipe proceeding laterally from the lowest part of the principal still A,
with a stopcock at the end of the pipe S for drawing off liquid from the still
A, and to empty the same when required. The lower part of the principal
still A, A, is set in brickwork in the usual manner of ordinary stills, so as to
have a furnace beneath the bottom with a flue around the outside of the lower
part, reaching nearly, but not quite, as high up above the bottom as there will
be liquid withinside the still A. The brickwork and furnace and flue are not
represented in the Drawing, being well known; and note, the vapour which
ascends as already mentioned in the space i, b, d, i, b, d, between the upper
parts of the two stills is, as already stated, the most pure and spiritous part of
all the vapour that rises from the liquid in the principal still A, A. Some
cooling, and, consequently, some condensation of that purest and most
spiritous vapour will take place by precipitation of liquid spirit against the
internal surface of b, b, and the external surface d, d, which precipitation will
collect into drops of liquid and run down the said surfaces. And in order that.
the said liquid may not get down to the lower part of the principal still A, A,
but be conveyed into the rectifying still B, two circular gutters may be fixed
as shewn in the section Figure 1, one at r, r, around the interior of b, b, and
the other a little lower down at s, s, around the exterior of d, d, each of those
gutters being a narrow strip of metal plate fastened on to the said surfaces, so
as to project sufficiently therefrom for intercepting all drops of liquid that may.

page_text: be running down each of the surfaces, and the gutter will collect those drops
into liquid; all that is so running down the interior surface of b, b, will be
intercepted by the uppermost gutter r, r, and will be thereby transferred to the
exterior surface of d, d, at the lower part thereof, so as to become an addition
to what may be running down from the upper part of d, d, and the whole will
be intercepted by the lowermost gutter s, s, from which a pipe t descends into
the rectifying still B, and reaches down so near to the bottom thereof that the
lower end of the pipe t will always be immersed in liquid to prevent any
ascent of vapour through the pipe t. By means of the said gutters r, r, s, s,
and the pipe t, all the liquid spirit may be condensed on the surfaces b, b, and
d, d, will be introduced into the rectifying still B. The liquid with which the
worm tub C is filled will become warm by degrees; first and warmest at the
upper part of that liquid, and, towards the conclusion of the operation, the
lower part will also become somewhat warmed; and to prevent loss of any
spiritous vapour that may rise from the surface of the warm liquid, the worm
tub C is covered over at the top with a close cover; and a large pipe or trunk
Qascends from, that cover and turns down again to descend by a pipe w to
join to the coils of the worm pipe within the worm tub C¹ belonging to the
rectifying still, or otherwise the said pipe w may descend to the worm pipe within
the worm tub D, the pipe w being in that case joined to the pipe p from the
safe H. The cooling and condensing of the vapour within the worm pipe
which is surrounded by the liquid wherewith the worm tub C is filled, is, in
other words, an absorption of beat from such vapour by the liquid, which
becomes warm by degrees, in consequence of that absorption, as the operation
goes on; but it is at the upper part of the liquid in the worm tub C that it
first becomes warm, and by degrees becomes very warm, the lower part of the
liquid remaining cooler, and acquiring warmth by slower degrees, because the
chief cooling and condensation of vapour within the coils of the worm pipe
takes place at the upper end thereof, and less and less lower down. It is not
required that the liquid around the worm pipe belonging to the principal still
A should absorb much more heat from the vapour than is necessary for con-
densing the vapour into the state of liquid; but leaving that liquid very warm
when it runs out at the lower end of the said worm pipe into the safe G, and
thence through the pipe ginto the rectifying still B, which being thus supplied
with warm liquid, so much the less heat will be required for the rectifying of
that liquid. It is different with respect to the other worm pipe belonging to
the rectifying still B, which worm pipe is contained within the worm tub C';
for that worm pipe must not merely condense the vapour into liquid spirit, but
should also cool that liquid as much as can be done for this purpose the

page_text: worm tub C¹ must be large, and well supplied with cold liquid, and the helical
coils of the said worm pipe belonging to the rectifying still B should be large
coils disposed around within the tub C', the worm pipe forming those coils
being of small size, but of great length. On the other hand the worm tub C
need not contain more liquid than will be wanted for two or three times of
charging the principal still A, and the helical coils of the worm pipe for the
principal still A may be smaller coils disposed within the worm tub C, the
worm pipe forming those coils being of larger size but shorter in length. In
this way there will be a rapid absorption of heat by the liquid contained in the
worm tub C from the vapour which is descending. through the coils of the
worm pipe belonging to the principal still A, and the said liquid becoming
warmed by degrees from such absorption, and particularly so at the upper
part, will, after the end of the operation, be prepared for supplying the prin-
cipal still A with a charge of very warm liquid, which will be let down from
that upper part through the pipe and cock a, at the commencement of another
succeeding operation. It has been already stated that the first and greatest
portion of heat will be absorbed by the liquid surrounding the upper part of
the coils of the said worm pipe; but the lower part of those coils from which
a much less portion of heat will be absorbed is surrounded by liquid at the
lower part of the worm tub C, where the liquid, although in process of
becoming warmed by slower degrees, will continue in a cold state after the
liquid in the upper part of the worm tub C is become very warm; so that at
the end of the operation, although the liquid in the upper part of the worm
tub C is become very warm, suitably for charging. the principal still A as afore-
said from the said upper part, nevertheless the liquid in the lower part of the
same worm tub C will remain cool enough for effecting the required condensa-
tion of such vapour as will then be passing away from the upper part of the prin-
cipal still A, and through the worm pipe belonging thereto; because the conden-
sation of such vapour which, at the commencement of the operation, takes place
within the upper part of the coils of the worm pipe of the principal still A will
take place lower and lower down in those coils as the operation proceeds, and
ultimately the condensation will take place in the lower part of the said coils
at the end of the operation. In this manner the liquid which runs out from
the lower end of the worm pipe belonging to the principal still A into the safe
G, and thence through 9 into the rectifying still B for supplying that still, will
be in a very warm state so as to be easily rectified; but, on the other hand,
the liquid spirit which runs out into the safe H from the lower end of the
other worm pipe belonging to the rectifying still B will be in a much. cooler
state, and will afterwards be effectually cooled by descending through the coils

page_text: of the worm pipe in the tub D; and note, it is not necessary that there should
be any such worm pipe and worm tub as D, provided that the coils of the
worin pipe belonging to the rectifying still B were to be made sufficient in
extent of surface, and with a sufficiency of cold liquid in the worm tub C¹ (or
supplied thereto) for effecting the required cooling of the rectified liquid spirit.
In such case there would be no such worm tub as D, but only the two worm
tubs C and C¹, the latter being larger than represented in the Drawing, and
the pipe p would convey the cooled spirit from the safe II, to be stored in the
same manner as is represented in Figure 1, to be done from the pipe 7. As it
is desirable that the liquid with which the principal still A is charged should
be in as warm a state as can be obtained, the charging pipe a should go up
within the worm tub C, so that its upper end (which is open) will com-
municate with the liquid within the upper and central part of the worm tub
C, not much lower beneath the level of the surface of the liquid therein (when
the tub is properly filled) than is requisite for allowing a quantity of liquid
sufficient for a charge of the principal still A to be let down into that still
through the pipe a, when the cock therein is opened. The requisite charge of
liquid being thus taken from the upper part of the worm tub C, will, as
already stated, be in the warmest state that can be obtained; and immediately
afterwards a like quantity of fresh liquid is to be introduced through a suitable
pipe and cock into the lower part of the worm tub C; for filling up so much
deficiency as may have been occasioned in the upper part of the same tub C
by the said charging of the principal still A ; and in case of the worm tub C¹,
which contains the worm pipe belonging to the rectifying still B, being
supplied with cold water, then the said pipe and cock must bring the said
fresh liquid from any suitable elevated reservoir of such liquid, to introduce
the required quantity thereof into the lower part of the worm tub C, for filling
up the aforesaid deficiency; but in case of the worm tub C¹, as well as the
worm tub C, being supplied with liquid which is afterwards to be distilled,
then the aforesaid deficiency in the worm tub C must be supplied from the
worm tub C¹, which must in such case be so much higher than the worm tub
C as that the requisite quantity of the fresh liquid for filling up the worm
tub C may be let down (through a pipe and cock 8) from the uppermost and
warmest part of the larger and higher worm tub C', when a supply of fresh
liquid is required to be introduced as aforesaid into the lowermost part of the
worm tub C for filling up the aforesaid deficiency therein. Also in such case
the deficiency thereby occasioned in the worm tub C¹ is to be supplied by
introducing a suitable quantity of fresh liquid into the lower part of that worm
tub C (through a pipe and cock 7) from any suitable elevated reservoir of the

page_text: liquid. In any case the change of the liquid in the worm tub or tubs, that is
requisite for preventing the liquid becoming too warm for producing the
intended effect of cooling, should be made by drawing off from the upper part
of each tub the liquid which is become warmest, and filling up by. intro-
ducing fresh and cooler liquid into the lowest part of the same tub.
Wherefore, in case as above stated the worm tub C¹, for the worm
pipe belonging to the rectifying still B, is to be supplied with cold water
in the usual manner of ordinary worm tubs, that water should overflow in
waste from the upper part of the tub, where it is become warm, as fast as
the supply of fresh cold water is introduced at. the lower part of the same
tub. From what has been described respecting the warming of the liquid
contained in the worm tub C it may be inferred that the quantity therein
contained should be such as to obtain the greatest warmth at the upper part
of that liquid from which part the charge of warm liquid for charging the
principal A is to be drawn, but nevertheless containing sufficient coolness in
the lower part of the same liquid (even at the end of the operation) for con-
densing the vapour (proceeding from the principal still A) into the warm
liquid suitably for the supply of the rectifying still B. If the worm tub C is
male large enough to contain three times as much liquid as is wanted for
each time of charging the principal still A, then it may be partly filled with
only so much of the liquid as may be found by trial to be sufficient for
effecting the said condensation of the vapour into warm liquid at the end of
the operation; in which case the upper part of the liquid in the worm tub C
will acquire the greatest warmth that can be obtained for the charging of the
principal still A; and the charging pipe a being made, as already described,
to stand up within the liquid contained in the worm tub C, the height of the
upper and open end of that pipe should be regulated, so that when the worm
tub C is only partly filled, as aforesaid, the said open end will then be as
much below the level of the surface of the liquid in the tub C as is requisite
for enabling the proper quantity of the liquid to be let down through the pipe
a for charging the principal still A. The said upper and open end of the
charging pipe a may be a moveable tube fitted over the lower and fixed part
of that charging pipe, so as to be capable of sliding up and down thereon, in
order that the said upper and open end may be placed at such height as may
be suitable for so letting down the said proper quantity. In case of the worm
tub C¹ being supplied with the liquid that is afterwards to be distilled, then
the said liquid therein will become somewhat warmed at the upper part
towards the end of the operation; and it is the liquid which is so warmed that.
is to be transferred by a pipe, in the manner already stated, from the said

page_text: upper part of the worm tub C' to the lower part of the worm tub C, in order
to fill up the deficiency occasioned in the tub C by the charging of the
principal still A from the upper part thereof. Wherefore in such case the
worm tub C will be filled with liquid, which is somewhat warm at the com-
mencement of the operation; and there should consequently be a greater
quantity of liquid contained in the worm tub C than would be requisite in the
other case of the worm tub C¹ being supplied with cold water, because the
deficiency in the worm tub C would in such case be filled up with fresh cold
liquid introduced by a pipe and cock into the lower part of the tub C from an
elevated reservoir of the liquid, as already stated. And note, in case of the
to be distilled, the upper
worm tub C¹ being supplied with the liquid that is
part of that worm tub C¹ should be so much higher than the upper part of
the other worm tub C as that the requisite quantity of liquid for filling up the
deficiency in the tub C may be transferred by its own gravity, through a suitable
pipe and cock, from the upper part of C¹ to the lower part of C, as already
mentioned. And note, when all the stock of liquid that has been provided for
distilling has been drawn down out of the aforesaid elevated reservoir, there will
still be a quantity of liquid remaining in the worm tub C (in the case of the
other worm tub C' being supplied with cold water), or in both the worm tubs
C and C¹ (in case of both those tubs being supplied with the liquid), and for
distilling that remaining liquid the worm tub or tubs must be supplied with
cold water in the usual manner of supplying worm tubs; that is to say, in
case of the worm tub C¹ being always supplied with cold water, then, after
the principal still A has been charged with warm liquid from the tub C; and
there is no more liquid in the reservoir for filling up the deficiency in C, the
liquid remaining therein should be drawn off into any suitable receptacle, and
C is to be filled with cold water. The subsequent charges for the still A are
to be taken by pumping from the said receptacle until none of the liquid is
left; or, in case of the worm tub C₁ being supplied with the liquid to be
distilled, then, after as much of the liquid has been transferred from the upper
part of C¹ to the lower part of the other tub C as will fill up the deficiency
therein, and there is no more liquid in the reservoir for filling up C', then the
liquid remaining in the lower part of C¹ should be drawn off into a suitable
receptacle, and C is to be filled with cold water; and after the principal still
A has been again charged from the upper part of C the deficiency therein is
to be filled up by pumping liquid from the said réceptacle into the lower part
of C, and this is to be repeated until none of the liquid is left in the recep-
tacle. Then, after the still A has been charged from the upper part of C, the
liquid remaining in the lower part of C is to be drawn off into the receptacle,

page_text: and C is to be filled up with cold water. The subsequent charges for the still
A are to be pumped from the receptacle into that still until none of the liquid is
left. And note, in case of the said worm tub C¹ being supplied with liquid that
is to be distilled, it may have a close cover, and a pipe therefrom to join to the
coils of the worm, in order to avoid any loss of spiritous vapour, in the same
manner as already explained respecting the other worm tub C. And note, it
is not essential that there should be two separate worm tubs, such as C and C³,
for the two worm pipes belonging to the stills A and B may both be included
within one large worm tub, which may answer the purpose of both the tubs C
and C. In such case the helical coils of the worm pipe belonging to the
principal still A should be disposed chiefly at the upper and central part of the
liquid contained in the said worm tub, and the coils of the other worm pipe
belonging to the rectifying still B chiefly at the lower and exterior part of the
liquid in the same tub. The liquid required for charging the principal still A
should be let down from the uppermost part of the said worm tub, where the
liquid will be warmest; and the deficiency so occasioned should be filled up
by introducing fresh and cold liquid from the elevated reservoir into the lower
part of the said worm tub. The operation will be nearly the same as already
described respecting the worm tubs C and C¹ in the case of both being supplied
with the liquid to be distilled. And note, respecting the mode herein-before
described of supplying the worm tub C (or tubs C and C'), and surrounding
the worm pipe (or pipes) with liquid which is afterwards to be distilled in the
principal still A in order that the said liquid, in the act of cooling and con-
densing the vapour into liquid, may become warmed in readiness for charging
the still A with warmed liquid instead of cold liquid, and also respecting the
close cover to the worm tub C, with a pipe therefrom to a worm pipe in order
to avoid loss of spiritous vapour; although the said mode is advantageous for
economizing heat, it is not essential to be used along with our improvements, for
all the worm tubs C; C, and D, may be supplied with cold water in the usual
manner of ordinary worm tubs and as herein-before explained respecting the
worm tubs C and D. And the said mode of supplying the worm tub or tubs with
liquid which is afterwards to be distilled, and of avoiding loss of spiritous vapour
therefrom, is not claimed as any part of our Invention, the same being commonly
known and frequently practised in distilling and rectifying. The safes G and H
are constructed in the usual manner for shewing the run of spirit out of the lower
end of each worm pipe, and for permitting of the alcoholic strength of that spirit
to be tested at any time as may be desired, but without permitting any of the spirit
to be withdrawn from the safe; all which, being well known and in common
use, and such safes being constructed in different ways, need not be further

page_text: described. And note, whereas it is usual to apply what is called a stirrer or
agitator in the interior of stills for distilling liquids which contain feculent
matter, in order by stirring and keeping the liquid in motion to prevent such
matter from depositing at the bottom of the still and burning thereto, a
stirrer may be applied in the principal still A, A, Figure 1, when the liquid to
be distilled therein is of such a nature as would require to be stirred with a
stirrer in the usual mode of distilling, such a stirrer is applied at the lower
end of a vertical axis 1, 1, situated in the vertical central line of the two
stills A and B, and having two long arms 2, 2, affixed across the lower end
of that axis, so as to be at some distance above the bottom of the still A, the
said arms being curved to correspond to the curve of the bottom; and a
number of loops of metal chain 3, 3, 3, 3, are suspended from the said arms
2, 2, so as to hang down therefrom, and drag round on the bottom of the still
A when the vertical axis 1, 1, with the arms 2, 2, are turned round, which
may be done by means of a toothed wheel, not represented in the Drawing,
but it would be fastened on the upper end of the vertical axis 1, 1, and
actuated by a pinion on a horizontal axis, with a winch handle thereon for
turning it and the stirrer by manual labour, or the axis of such pinion may
be turned by steam or other power. The vertical axis 1, 1, passes through a
stuffing box at 4, in the upper part of the head of the still, to prevent escape
of vapour, the said toothed wheel being on the upper end of the axis 1, 1,
above the stuffing box and outside of the still. Also the upper end of the
axis 1, 1, above the said wheel, is suspended (by a turning shackle) from a
balance lever, which is provided with tackle by which the axis can be raised
up endways so much as to raise the chain 3, 3, 3, 3, off the bottom of the still
A when required. This kind of stirrer, with its accessories, being well known,
and commonly used in ordinary stills, need not be further described, except
that a central vertical tube 5 j, 5j, is fixed up in the rectifying still B, joining
to the centre of the bottom h thereof, and going up and joining to the upper
part of the globular head at the top, where the stuffing box 4 is situated; and
such tube 5j, 5j, will prevent any escape of vapour or liquid from the recti-
fying still B. The interior of that tube should be large enough to receive the
vertical axis 1, 1, of the stirrer without touching, excepting a fitting at the
lower end of the tube 5, 5 (where it joins to the bottom h), suitably for
retaining the axis 1, 1, in its intended vertical position, but permitting it to
revolve. The overflow pipe R is bended to one side of the interior of the
principal still A, so as to be out of the way of the ends of the revolving arms
2,2, of the stirrer; and note, it is not essential that the tube 5j, 5j, should
rise up higher above the bottom h of the rectifying still B than the level of

page_text: the upper end of the overflow pipe R, provided that (instead of the upper
part j, j, of the tube) a larger tube is fastened to the axis 1, 1, so as to revolve
therewith and surround the outside of the fixed tube 5, 5, but without
touching, as is shewn by dotted lines 6, 6. The lower end of the larger tube
6, 6, although open, will be immersed beneath the liquid in the rectifying
still B, so as to prevent escape of any vapour therefrom; and the fixed tube
5, 5, will prevent any escape of liquid, unless the surface thereof rises higher
than the level of the upper end of the overflow pipe R. And note, in order
that the intended communication of heat to the rectifying still B, and to the
liquid therein, may readily take place from the vapour acting beneath that
still in manner herein-before described, the bottom h, h, thereof should be
made of as thin metal as is consistent with the requisite strength, copper being
in most cases a suitable metal; and, if desired, the surface of that bottom may
be increased by bending the thin metal of which the bottom is made into a
fluted or corrugated form, alternately elevated up above and depressed down.
below a supposed surface h, h, of the bottom. The lengthway of such flutes
may be straight lines disposed parallel one to another across the bottom h, h, or
the lengthway of the flutes may be circular flutes disposed in concentric circular
rings, occupying the bottom h, h; and note, although it has been herein-before
mentioned that the principal still A is to be heated by fire applied in a furnace
beneath it, nevertheless the said principal still might be heated by steam
introduced from a suitable boiler into a narrow space left between the lower
part of the said still and a steam casing applied beneath and joined closely to
that lower part, as is represented in Figure 2; or else steam might be intro-
duced into steam pipes coiled round in the inside of the lower part of the
principal still A, so as that those pipes would be surrounded by the liquid
therein, as is also represented in Figure 2; or a steam casing, applied exter-
nally beneath, and internal steam pipes, might both be used in concert for
communicating heat more effectually from the steam to the liquid in the
principal still A.
And note, it is not essential for apparatus constructed
according to this part of our improvements that the upper part b, b, b, b,.
Figure 1, of the principal still A, A, should include the corresponding part
d, d, of the rectifying still B within it; and therefore the construction of the.
apparatus, Figure 1, may be modified in the following manner, without
altering the manner of its operation as herein-before described :-The hori-
zontal bottom of the rectifying still B is to be continued to join closely to
the circumference of the principal still A at i, i. The upright sides of the
inner still, near to the bottom h, and also the upper part d, d, is to be .wholly,
omitted, so that the exterior boundaries of the inner or rectifying still will be.

page_text: the bottom i, h, i, and sides 'i, 'b,"b,'i, b; b; so that it might with propriety be
termed the upper still, but it will continue to be the rectifying still. The
vapour arising from the liquid in the principal still A will act beneath the
bottom i, h, i, and the least spiritous and most impure portion of the vapour
will be condensed beneath that "bottom in the manner already explained; but
the most spiritous and pure portion of the vapour which escapes such' conden-
sation, instead of ascending around the upper part d, d, of the rectifying still
B, will ascend through the centre of that still within a large central tube fixed
in the position represented by the dotted lines 9, 9, which tube is joined all
around its lower end to a corresponding aperture through the centre of the
bottom h, h, of the rectifying still B; and the upper end of 9, 9, corresponds
with the upper part of d, d, Figure 1. The vapour ascending from the prin-
cipal still A through that central-tube 9; 9; will pass away from the globular
head at the upper end of -9, 9, through the trunk n to the worm pip
"pipe contained
in the worm tub C belonging to the principal still A; and the other trunk
must join to the worm pipe contained in the worm tub C¹, belonging to the
rectifying still 'B, so that the connections of the two trunks c and n with the
two worm pipes will be reversed to what is represented in the Drawing With
the above variation of its construction the operation of the apparatus will be
the same as herein-before described in reference to Figure 1. A circular
gutter, similar to r, (but inverted) may be fixed around the interior of the
large central tube 9, 9, to collect drops of condensed liquid, and convey the
same by a pipe similar to t into the rectifying still B. The said large central
tube 9, 9, will admit the vertical axis 1, 1, of the stirrer within it in the same
manner as already explained respecting the central vertical tube 5, 5, which
is to be omitted because the tube 9, 9, being similar, only of a larger size, it
answers the purpose of 51, 5. In the construction now describing the
exterior sides b, b, which are exposed to the external air, will be the upper
part of the rectifying still B, instead of being the upright part of the principal
still A, as in the Drawing. A manhole, with a suitable cover, is to be made.
through any convenient part of the sides b, b, to give entrance into the
rectifying still B when required for cleansing or repairing; and note, although
not mentioned before, it is to be understood, that when the construction is
that of Figure 1, there is to be a manhole for entrance into the rectifying
still B, which manhole must pass through both the sides band'd, Figure 1,
but without communicating with the space between 6 and d, and in any case
the principal still A is to have a manhole, as usual in ordinary stills. And
note, when the modified construction above described is adopted, the interior
capacity of the rectifying still B may, if desired, be divided into two, three,"
....
J

page_text: or more compartments by. vertical partitions radiating from the large central tube
9,19; to the exterior sides bb; and closely joined to both, so that there will be no
communication between one.of, those compartments and another. Each such.
compartment may be used as a distinct rectifying still, and for that reason must
have its own manhole for permitting entrance into-it when required; also each
such compartment must have. its own branch from the pipe and cock 9 for sup-
plying it with a due share. of warm liquid, from the safe G, and also its own
overflow pipe such as R, and its own stopcock for emptying the contents of that
compartment or letting the same down into the principal still A beneath when
required; also each compartment must have its own trunk for carrying away.
vapour from the uppermost part of that compartment to a small worm pipe of
its own, but all those worm pipes may be placed in the same worm tub, which
may be kept filled with cold water: The interior capacity of the rectifying still B
being thus divided into distinct compartments, each of those compartments may
be used as a separate rectifying still, and each compartment may therefore have
such ingredients put into it as may be desired for giving flavour, to the, rectified
spirit, which will be, obtained from the worm pipe belonging to that compart
ment, but as many different ingredients as there are compartments may be used
if desired. The operation, of the apparatus thus modified will be the same as
already described, the distillation in the principal still A will be the same; but
the warm liquid which runs from the safe G will be equally, distributed by:
suitable branches of the pipe g into each of the several compartments.of.the
rectifying still B, and the rectification in all those compartments will be going
on simultaneously in the same manner as if the rectifying still were not
divided; but the rectified spirit which is obtained from the several worm pipes
belonging to the different compartments will be of as many different flavours:
as there are compartiments with different flavouring ingredients in each. com-
partment. And, according to another part of our said improvements, the
operations of distilling and rectifying in an apparatus such as herein-before
described may be facilitated by combining therewith a system of air pipes with
numerous descending branch pipes, through which as many small divided
streams of air are to be forced downwards into the liquid contained in the:
principal still, or in the rectifying still, or in both those stills, so as that the
said air will be emitted from the lower ends of the several descending branch
pipes in the said numerous small divided streams beneath the surface of the:
said 'liquid in order that the air when so emitted, and when in the act of
ascending in small streams and bubbling up through the liquid to the surface.
thereof, inay be intermixed with the liquid for the purpose of facilitating the.
operations of distilling and rectifying, or either of those operations.

page_text: Figure 2 is a vertical section of an apparatus very similar to Figure 1, but
having a system of air pipes with descending branches, as aforesaid, combined
therewith. The same letters of reference are used as in Figure 1 to denote
the same or similar parts, which will be therefore explained by the foregoing
description. And as to other parts in Figure 2, K is an air pipe for
conveying air from any suitable blowing apparatus to the principal still A.
The pipe K passes through from the outside to join to a system of horizontal
air pipes L, L, L, within that still A; those pipes L, L, being united together
in a suitable manner for conveying the air over all parts of the horizontal
surface of the liquid which is beneath them at the lower part of the principal
still A. A suitable arrangement for the said pipes L, L, will be to have one
principal pipe disposed horizontally in a direction diametrically across the
centre of the still A in continuation of the air pipe K, with several cross pipes
proceeding from that principal pipe at right angles thereto, so that the air
supplied to them from the pipe K will be conveyed with an equal distribution
over all the area of the surface of the liquid in the lower still A: and from all
parts of each of the said pipes L, L, small branch pipes x, x, x, proceed, and
turn downwards in vertical directions, so as to descend beneath the surface of
the liquid in the principal still A to a suitable depth below that surface; the
lower ends of the several branches being open orifices for the emission of the
air which is forced forwards through the pipes K and L, L, in a continual
current, and thence through the descending branches x, x, of the pipes L, L,
and thereby the air becomes distributed and divided into numerous small
currents which are forced down through the several descending branch
pipes x, x, into the liquid, and there emitted so as to mix therewith; and the
air in ascending through the liquid to make its escape at the surface thereof
will cause a great and general agitation in the liquid, and the air if cold will
have a cooling effect on the liquid; or if the air is heated it will, on the con-
trary, have a heating effect on the liquid; but in either case the action of the
divided currents of hot or cold air mixing with and agitating the liquid will
greatly increase the production of vapour from the liquid beyond what would
take place at a like (or a higher) temperature without such application of air.
The air which is thus applied will pass up along with the vapour into the
upper part of the principal still, and thence in a current through the trunk
and worm pipe belonging thereto, where the vapour will be condensed into
liquid spirit, and thereby separated from the air, which will pass out of the
lower end of that worm pipe into the enclosed space within the safe G, and
from thence the current of air may make its escape by a suitable pipe. But,
in order to avoid waste of any spiritous vapour that might remain intermixed

page_text: with the escaping air in consequence of having escaped condensation in descend-
ing through the worm pipe, it will be prudent to convey the escaping air by.
the said pipe from the safe G into another worm pipe (or other refrigeratory
exposing an extensive cooling surface) which is kept so cool by cold water.
that it will effectually condense any such spiritous vapour, and separate the
same from the air, which will make its final escape into the open air from the
end of such other worm pipe or refrigeratory; and if the interior passage or
passages through such worm pipe or other refrigeratory is or are such as to
allow the air to pass through the same with a moderate velocity of current,
the intended condensation of spiritous vapour will be so much the more com-
pletely performed. Figure 2 also shews a similar system of air pipes applied
within the rectifying still B. The said air pipes are so much like the others.
as to require but little description. U being the air conveyance pipe (similar.
to K), and V, V, the pipes within the still (similar to L, L), and y, y, the
small descending branch pipes (similar to x, x). The operation of the air
will be the same as already described, whether in the rectifying still B or in
the principal still A. In either case the small descending branch pipes x, x,
or y, y, are to be very numerous, and their orifices at which they emit air are
to be uniformly distributed throughout the area of the surface of the liquid
beneath which they descend. The application of air in manner aforesaid will
increase the production of vapour from liquids which are at all thickened by
extraneous substances so as not to be perfectly limpid, and therefore the more
difficult for distilling and rectifying, such as distillers' wash from fermented wort
or molasses, particularly in the latter case if mixed with what is called dunder,
also impure naptha or turpentine. The apparatus for supplying the air that is
to be conveyed by the pipes K or U may be any kind of bellows or blowing
apparatus, such as are commonly used for flowing air into furnaces, and which
being well known need not be described; and in case of hot air being preferred,
the current of cold air that is blown forwards through a conveyance pipe by
the blowing apparatus may be caused to pass through any kind of air-heating
stove so as to become heated therein, and may then be conveyed onwards
through the pipes K or U in a hot state. The stoves which are commonly
used for heating the air that is blown into large furnaces for making iron with:
what is termed hot blast, though on a larger scale, and usually adapted for.
heating the air to higher temperatures than can be required for heating air to
be used as aforesaid in distilling and rectifying, will nevertheless serve as
models for the kind of heating stove that may be used. And note, similar,
applications of currents of air have been used for facilitating the evaporation of
liquids in cases when it is required to cause vapor to pass away from the liquid,
and escape into the open [air without condensation or making use of such.

page_text: vapour; and no claim is herein made: for any such application of air, except to
the purposes of distilling and rectifying. Figure 2'also shews how the principal
still A may be heated (as has been already stated: respecting. Figure 1). by
steam heat instead of by fire heat. But note, the heating of the principal still
by steam is no part of our Invention: X; X; Figure 2ista steam: casing
applied beneath the lower part of the principal still A, and closely joined
thereto, but leaving a narrow. space for steam which is introduced from a,
suitable steam boiler and steam pipe: through a regulating cock minto the
said space; and condensed water can be drawn-off from the said-steam "space
through the drain.cock z. The pipe and cock S for emptying the still A of
its liquid contents passes through the bottoms of both X and. A, but without
communicating with the space between the two. Z, Z; Figure 2, represents
a long steam pipe of small size, and made of thin. metal, disposed in *coils
around the bottom of the principal still Afand 'within the same, so as to be
surrounded by the liquid therein; is a pipe and regulating cock for supplying
steam to the interior of the coiled steam pipe Z, Z; and 7 is a drain pipe and
cock for carrying off condensed water from the lowest end of the coiled steam
pipe Z, Z.
Having now described the nature of our said improvements, and ..the
manner of performing the same, I, the said Alfred. Blyth, for, myself and for
the said John Blyth and John McCulloch, do hereby declare that the new
Invention, whereof the exclusive use is granted to us by the Letters Patent
herein-before recited, consists in the following particulars :-
Firstly, in the improvement herein-before described in reference to Figure 1
of the Drawing hereunto annexed, of two stills (with accessory parts thereto
belonging) combined together in one apparatus, for the purpose of distilling and
rectifying by a process which is continuous and uninterrupted from the time of
charging the apparatus with a charge of the liquid that is to be distilled until
such charge has undergone both the operations of distilling and rectifying by
the same heat. And whereas it has been heretoforé proposed to combine "two
or more stills in different ways and with different objects in view, it is hereby
further declared that the peculiar character of this first part of our said.
improvements is the following convincing circumstances, videlicit, that, of two
stills which are combined together, that still which is the rectifying still is
supplied by degrees (and kept supplied) with the liquid spirit that has only very
recently resulted from the distillation that is going on in the principal still of
the two stills which are combined together: The said liquid spirit being in a
very warm state when so supplied to the rectifying still, and being very
gradually supplied thereto in 'that warm state by mere descent (without any
attention or manipulation), as fast as the said liquid spirit issues from: the

page_text: lower end of the worm pipe belonging to the principal still, and also. (as well
as being in that warm state). the said spirit being in a, state of greater strength
and purity than would result from distilling (by the ordinary mode) a like
liquid to that which is in progress of distilling in the said principal still, such
greater strength and purity resulting from the condensation within the prin
cipál still of the least spiritous and most impure portion of the whole of the
vapour which had arisen from the liquid in that principal still during the
action of the whole of that vapour beneath the rectifying still, so that the re-
maining vapour which escaped the said condensation would be the most spiritous
portion of the said vapour, and as that portion' alone could be distilled over and,
condensed into liquid spirit for the gradual supply. (as aforesaid). of the rectify-
ing still with warm liquid spirit, such spirit would be so much the stronger
and purer, and the more easily rectified; and by the same condensation of the
least spritous and most impure portion of the vapour, as aforesaid, a very.
moderate heat is communicated to the rectifying: still and to the,, contents:
thereof for rectifying the warm liquid spirit which is gradually supplied, thereto.
in á state of such strength and purity as to render it, easy of rectification,
under the concurring circumstances aforesaid. Wherefore, according to this
part of our improvements, the same action of the vapour which rises from the
liquid in the principal istill, whereby that vapour communicates, a. moderate;
heat to the rectifying still and to the contents thereof, also frees the remaining.
vapour from its least spiritous and most impure portion; consequently, the
liquid spirit which results from condensation. of the said remaining vapour is so
much the more pure and requires the less rectifying. And owing to the
aforesaid concurring circumstances of the said spirit being supplied to the
rectifying still by degrees, and in a very warm state, and in a stronger and
more pure state, as aforesaid, the operation of rectifying that warm pure
spirit therein is so much facilitated that it is performed by that moderate heat
which is communicated to the rectifying still by the condensation of part of the
vapour, as
as aforesaid; and the rectifying still may, if desired, bé divided into
compartments in the manner herein-before described, each of those compart-
ments, although supplied alike, with its due share of warm liquid spirit from
he worm pipe belonging to the principal still, being capable of rectifying the
said share of that warni liquid spirit with some required flavour which may be
different in the different compartments according to the flavouring ingredients
that may be put into each of those compartments respectively.
Secondly, in the improvement herein-before described and represented in
Figure 2 of the Drawing hereunto annexed; of combining with an apparatus,
of the kind above stated (under the head Firstly) a system of air pipes with
numerous descending branch pipes, whereby numerous small divided streams,

page_text: of air in a cold state or in a hot state, are to be forced downwards into the
liquid contained in the principal still or in the rectifying still (or in both those
stills), so as that the said air will be emitted from the lower ends of the several
descending branch pipes in the said numerous small divided streams beneath
the surface of the liquid, in order that the air, when so emitted and when in
the act of ascending in small streams and bubbling up through the liquid to
the surface thereof, may be intermixed with the liquid for the purpose of facili-
tating the operation of distilling and rectifying (or either of those operations)
by the agitation caused in the liquid by the intermixing of the said small divided
streams of air with the liquid. And in case it is desirable to perform distilling
and rectifying at a low temperature, then by the cooling effect of cold air so
applied and producing agitation, as aforesaid, that cold air permitting a rapid
conversion of the liquid into vapour at a lower temperature than would be
required for a like conversion without such application of cold air, or in case
a low temperature is not required, then by the heating effect of hot air so
applied and producing agitation, as aforesaid, that hot air causing a very rapid
conversion of the liquid into vapour for facilitating the operations of dis-
tilling and rectifying (or either of those operations), and in either case the air
which has been so applied (either in a cold state or in a hot state) is to be so
effectually cooled in a worm pipe or other suitable refrigeratory as to separate
such spiritous vapour as may be intermixed with the air, and condense such
vapour into liquid spirit.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Blyth, for myself and for the
said John Blyth and John McCulloch, have hereunto set my hand and
· seal this Eighth day of March. One thousand eight hundred and forty-
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighth day of March, in the
eleventh year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said Alfred
Blyth came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknow-
ledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained
and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument aforesaid
was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year
of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.