An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Purifying and Maturing. Alcoholic Liquors.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
TRUYIOIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Purifying and Maturing.
Alcoholic Liquors.
I, JOHN GARFIELD HATHAWAY, of 17, Osnaburgh Street, Regent's Park,
London, N.W., Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for purifying and
maturing alcoholic liquors fresh from the still or otherwise, and is chiefly designed
to enable the purification and maturing of such liquors to be very efficiently carried
out without materially reducing their strength.
For this purpose I heat the liquor to a suitable temperature and pass through the
same, while contained in bulk in a tank or receptacle, heated air in a finely divided
condition, which air is preferably pieviously oxidised, oxygenated or ozonised, or
1 pass first ordinary heated air and then heated ozonised air through the heated.
liquor, according to the nature of the liquor under treatment.
In treating alcoholic liquors according to my said invention, I find it advan-
tageous to proceed as follows, viz. :-I place the liquor in a suitable tank or
receptacle, the height of the column of liquid therein being preferably at least
twice the diameter thereof. When in the said tank, the liquor is heated to a
temperature above the normal, preferably between 94° and 70° Fahrenheit
(dependent upon the age of the spirit treated) and is then subjected in its heated
condition, in bulk, first to the action of heated air at a temperature not less than
that to which the liquor is heated, which air is caused to pass up through the liquor
in a very finely divided condition, for the purpose of removing therefrom the more
volatile impurities, such as ether and so forth, and then to the action of hot oxidised
or ozonised air also in a very finely divided condition, which serves to oxidise the
less volatile alcohols, destroying the poisonous aldehydes present in the raw spirit,
and which render the same poisonous or unpalatable, and leaving only the harmless
flavouring matter.
•
In this manner, by employing hot oxidised or ozonised air at a temperature above
the normal, I am enabled to effect the oxidation, destruction or removal of the
doleterious components of the raw spirit, without passing through the said spirit
an excessive volume of air, thus preventing any material loss of strength such as
takes place in the processes heretofore employed.
66
In carrying my said invention into practice, I employ a closed tank or receptacle,
preferably of circular form in transverse section, which is of considerable height
relatively to its diameter, so that the proportions above mentioned between the
diameter and depth of the body of liquid therein can be obtained. This tank
which may be termed the treatment' tauk, is provided with a heating coil or
serpentine or other suitable means whereby the liquor can be heated to the required
temperature, thermometers being provided, one for indicating the temperature
of the liquor, and another for indicating the temperature of the vapour in the tank.
The air for use in the process is drawn from the atmosphere, either directly or

page_text: through a suitable filtering or drying apparatus, by means of a suitable air-pump
which forces it into a chamber where its temperature can be raised by means of
suitable heating coils or the like, a thermometer being provided whereby the
temperature to which the air is heated can be readily observed.
From this chamber the air passes into a chamber wherein it can be oxidized
or ozonised in any suitable manner either chemically or electrically, or by the
addition thereto of independently-prepared oxygen or ozone, but preferably by
passing the air through a column of permanganate of potash heated to a very
high temperature; this oxidising chamber is provided with a byo-pass controlled
by a suitable cock or valve so that the air can be either passed through the said
oxidising chamber or not, on its way to the "treatment tank; the said chamber
is, moreover, provided with a coil or pipe system or other means of heating,
whereby its temperature can be raised as desired.
"
From the oxidising chamber, the air is conducted to the bottom of the "treat-
ment tank and passed into the liquor therein through fine perforations formed
in a suitable coil or in a false-bottom fitted in the said tank, the collective-area
of the said perforations being preferably equal to that of the pipe conducting
the air thereto. By making the perforations fine and distributing them uniformly
over the bottom of the tank, I am enabled to bring the air into very intimate
contact with the whole body of the liquor and ensure the proper oxidization and
maturing of the same.
The air, after having passed through the liquor, is conducted into a suitable
condenser, constructed so as to get the maximum amount of condensation and
the minimum amount of obstruction to the air and gases in their passage through
it. The liquid produced by condensation is conducted into a suitable drip or
receiver, while the air and gases are allowed to pass away into the atmosphere.
In treating liquors according to my said process, the oxidising chamber is
first cut out from the air-circuit, and hot air is caused to pass through the liquor
which is previously heated to the desired temperature in the " treatment" tank.
When the liquor has been subjected to this treatment for a sufficient length of
time (preferably for about five hours), the bye-pass is closed, the passage through
the oxidising chamber is opened and hot oxidised or ozonized air is forced through
the perforations into the body of the liquor in the "treatment" tank and rises
through the same in a very finely divided condition. This operation is continued
for the further space of 18 to 19 hours or longer dependent upon the age to be
imparted to the spirit.
The air is forced into the liquor at a pressure but slightly more than sufficient
to overcome the pressure due to the head of liquor in the tank; therefore the
time during which the air is in contact with the liquor, is as long as practicable,
and the maximum oxidising effect of the air passed through the apparatus is
thus obtained; this can be determined by the thermometers by the difference in
temperature of the liquor in the "treatment" tank and the temperature of
the vapour as it leaves the body of the liquor.
Datad the 20th 11 1008

page_text: An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Purifying and Maturing
Alcoholic Liquors.
I. JOHN GARFIELD HATHAWAY, of 17, Osnaburgh Street, Regent's Park,
London, N.W., Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for purifying
and maturing alcoholic liquors fresh from the still or otherwise, and is chiefly
designed to provide for very rapidly, efficiently and economically carrying out
the purification and maturing of such liquors without materially reducing their
strength.
According to my improved method or process, I introduce heated oxygenated
air in a very finely divided condition into a body of the alcoholic liquor (the
temperature of which is elevated to a suitable degree) at the lower end of the
said body of liquor and at such a pressure as will just overcome the resistance
due to the head of liquid, so that the said heated oxygenated air will ascend
very slowly through the body of the liquid, being simply forced upward by the
gravitation of the liquid. In this manner the air, by reason of the extra quantity
of oxygen it contains and of its being kept for a long time in contact with the
liquor, will very rapidly oxidise the deleterious constituents of the liquor and
will mature the spirit in a much shorter time and more economically and efficiently
than is practicable by the processes hitherto generally adopted.
Or I pass though the liquor, in the manner above described, first ordinary
heated air and then heated oxygenated air; either of these modes of treatment
being adopted according to the nature of the liquor to be treated.
An important feature of my said invention consists in passing the heated air
through a body or mass of heated permanganate of potash for the purpose of
oxygenating the air before it is allowed to ascend through the liquor.
In treating alcoholic liquors according to my said invention, I find it advan-
tageons to proceed as follows, riz:-I place the liquor in a suitable tauk or recep-
tacle, the height of the column of liquid therein being preferably at least twice
the diameter thereof. When in the said tank, the liquor is heated to a tempera-
ture above the normal, preferably between 95 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit
(dependent upon the age of the spirit to be treated) and is then subjected in its
heated condition, in bulk, first to the action of heated air at a temperature not
less than that to which the liquor is heated, which air is allowed to rise through
the liquor in a very finely divided condition, for the purpose of removing therefrom
the more volatile ethers and impurities, and then to the action of hot oxygenated
air also in a very finely divided condition, which is also allowed to ascend through
the liquid and serves to oxidise the less volatile alcohols, destroying or changing
the poisonous elements present in the raw spirit, and which render the same dele-
terious or unpalatable, but leaving the harmless flavouring matter.
In this manner, by employing hot dry oxygenated air, I am enabled to effect
the oxidation, destruction or removal of the deleterious components of the raw
spirit, without passing through the said spirit an excessive volume of air, thus
preventing any material loss of strength such as has been found to take place in
the processes heretoforo employed.
In the accompanying drawing, A is a closed tank or receptacle, preferably of
circular form in transverse section, which is of such height relatively to its
diameter, that the proportions above mentioned between the diameter and height

page_text: of the column of liquid therein can be obtained. This tank, which may bo
termed the "treatment" tank, is provided with a heating coil or serpentine B in
communication with a steam-pipe C by means of a cock or valve B', whereby
steam can be udmitted to the interior of the coil B and the liquor heated to the
required temperature, thermometers D, D' being provided, one, 1), for indicating
the temperature of the liquor, and another, D', for indicating the temperature of
the vapour in the tank. If desired, other suitable means may be employed for
heating the liquor in the tank.
The air for use in the process must be free from moisture, and is drawn from
the atmosphere, either directly, as shown, or through a suitable filtering or drying
apparatus, by means of an air-pump E which forces it into a heating chamber 1,
wherein it is dried and its temperature raised by means of suitable heating coils G
or the like, supplied with steam from the supply-pipe C through a cock or valve G',
a thermometer being provided, if desired, whereby the temperature to which the
air is heated can be readily observed.
From the heating chamber the air passes through a pipe controlled by a
cock into an oxygenating chamber H, where it passes through a body or mass
of permanganate of potash heated to a high temperature, say about 200 degrees
Fahrenheit, the said chamber H being provided with a coil or pipe-system J
supplied with steam from the supply-pipe C through a cock or valve J, or with
other means whereby the temperature therein can be raised as desired. The
oxygenating chamber H is also provided with a bye-pass F, H controlled by a
cock or valve H³ so that the air can be either passed through the oxygenating
chamber H, or not, on its way to the "treatment" tank A.
From the oxygenating chamber H, where its temperature is measured by means
of the thermometer K, the air is conducted through the pipe A' to the bottom of
the "treatment" tank A, and introduced into the liquor therein through fine
perforations formed in a false-bottom A or in a serpentine or star-shaped dis-
tributor fitted in the said tank, the collective area of the said perforations being
preferably equal to that of the pipe A' conducting the air thereto. By making
the perforations very small and numerous and distributing them uniformly over
the bottom of the tank, I am enabled to bring the air into very intimate contact
with the whole body of the liquor and thus ensure the proper oxidation and
maturing of the same.
The air, after having passed through the liquor, together with the vapours
given off, is conducted into a condenser, consisting of a coil L immersed in a
cooling tank M and so constructed as to. get the maximum amount of conden-
sation and the minimum amount of obstruction to the air and gases in their
passage through the condenser. The liquid produced by condensation is conducted
into a suitable drip-tank or receiver N through a pipe N', while the exhaust air
and gases are allowed to pass away into the atmosphere through the aperture N³,
a thermometer P being provided for indicating their temperature.
The temperature of the several coils B, G, J can be varied by admitting more
or less steam thereto from the supply-pipe C¹; any water of condensation is cou-
ducted from the said coils to a common waste-pipe Q provided with a steam-trap
or other suitable means for preventing the escape of steam.
In treating liquors according to my said process, the oxygenating chamber II
is first cut out from the air-circuit by closing the cook or valve F, and opening
the valve H, and hot dry air ia caused to pass through the perforated false-
bottom As or its equivalent into the liquor, which is previously heated to the
desired temperature in the "treatment" tank A. When the liquor has been
subjected to this treatment for a sufficient length of time (preferably for about five
hours), the bye-pass 13 is closed, the passage F through the oxygenating cham-
ber H is opened and the hot dry oxygenated air is introduced through the per-
forations into the body of liquor in the "treatment" tank A, and rises through
the same in a very finely divided condition, the pressure being just sufficient to

page_text: force the air through the perforations against the resistance due to the head of
liquid. This operation is continued for the further space of 18 to 19 hours or
longer, dependent upon the "age" to be imparted to the spirit.
The air being forced into the liquor at a pressure just sufficient, or but slightly
more than sufficient to overcome the pressure due to the head of liquor in the tank A,
the time during which the air is in contact with the liquor is as long as practicable,
and the maximum oxidising effect of the air passing through the apparatus is thus
obtained; this can be determined by means of the thermometers, by ascertaining
the difference in temperature of the liquor in the "treatment" tank and the
vapour as it leaves the body of the liquor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to performed, I declare that what I claim is:
:-
First. In the purification and maturing of alcoholic liquors, passing dry heated
air through or in contact with heated permanganate of potash and then allowing
the air thus oxygenated to ascend in a very finely divided condition through a
body of the liquor maintained at an elevated temperature.
Second. The improved method or process of purifying and maturing alcoholic
liquors, which consists in drying, heating and oxygenating air, allowing the
same to ascend in a very finely divided condition through a body of the liquor
which is maintained at an elevated temperature, and then conducting the air
and the vapours mixed therewith, into a condenser and collecting the products
of condensation, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. The improved method or process of purifying and maturing alcoholic
liquors, which consists in passing through a body of the liquor maintained at an
elevated temperature, first dry heated air in a very finely divided condition for a
suitable period, and then dry heated oxygenated air in a very finely divided
condition for a further suitablo period, the air and the vapours mixed therewith
after it has passed through the liquor, being conducted into and through a cou-
denser and the products of condensation collected, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Fourth. The improved apparatus constructed, arranged and operating as, and
for the purposes, above described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 20th day of December 1907
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.