CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR APPARATUS FOR DISTILLATION
Year: 1815

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CRISTOPH
DIHL, of Frith Street, Soho; in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster the Fifth day of December,
in the fifty-sixth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said Cristoph
Dihl, my exors, adiñňors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Cristoph Dihl, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OR APPARATUS FOR DISTILLATION," communicated to me by a certain
Foreigner residing abroad; in which Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso that if I, the said Cristoph Dihl, shall not particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and
cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advan-
tages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and become
void, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Cristoph Dihll; do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention and the

page_text: manner in which the same are to be performed, are particularly described and
ascertained in manner following (that is to say) :-
DESCRIPTION and EXPLANATION of the Machine or Apparatus intended for
continual Distillation, to which I have obtained a Patent, to which is
annexed the design of an apparatus, in order to render the description
easier, more simple, and more intelligable.
I have used the word wine to express any matter or fermented liquor that
may be submitted to distillation.
Figure 1, A, a vessel into which is conveyed wine that is to undergo the
distillation. This vessel may be made either of metal or of wood of any shape
whatever, covered or uncovered. At the bottom of it is bored an aperture into
which is introduced the tube a from which the wine is discharged. a, a tube
placed at the bottom of the vessel A, with a cock to it; to the key of this cock
is fixed an iron rod which is bent, and carries at its extremity a floater
intended to float on the top of the wine in the vessel B. b, the floater or
swimmer made of either wood, cork, or metal. It is fixed to an iron rod
which is joined to the key of the cock a, and is intended by its rising or
lowering to open or to shut the key of the cock, and by this means always to
keep the wine at the same height in the vessel B, that I call the regulator; c,
an iron tube bent, one end of which is fixed to the key of the cock a, and the
other to the floater b, in the vessel B; the use of it has been described above.
B, a vessel which I call the regular, because it is by opening the cock d
that is fixed to it that you direct the quantity of wine that is to undergo the
operation of uninterrupted distillation. d, a cock fixed to the vessel B; its use
has already been described. e, e, e, e, a flat tube not above one inch thick,
but at least six in breadth; it goes across the whole length of the box C.
One of its extremities has the shape of a funnel to receive the wine that is
discharged from the cock d, and the other reaches and is adjusted to the
inferior part of the vessel D, which I call the wine warmer or wine boiler; it
serves as a conductor to the wine which is received in the funnel from the
cock d into the inferior part of the wine warmer. C, a box containing a con-
denser, the shape and horizontal view of which may be seen, Fig. 3; b, b, b,
the condenser, is at the bottom of the box, which is filled with water. The
tube e, e,.e, which runs across the whole length of the box, is placed above the con-
denser, and extends into the water. The wine, by running through the tube
to discharge into the wine boiler, is impregnated with a certain quantity of
the colorific which the water continually inhales from the alcoholic vapours
that are condensated in the condenser. f, a tube which joins the extremity of

page_text: the box C to that of a serpentine (curved tube) inclosed in the wine boiler D;
it also is joined to the cock No. 1 by means of a tube bearing the cock. D, a
vessel wherein there is a serpentine which dips into the wine that replaces the
water. This vessel must be well closed. It is the real wine boiler. 9, 9, a
tube, one extremity of which reaches the condenser inclosed in the box C, and
the other the column E; through the cock No. 1 it receives the liquor that
has been condensated in the serpentine within the wine boiler, and through the
tube h, h, it also receives the wine that runs from the upper part of the wine
boiler to be discharged into the column. h, h, a tube, one extremity of which
reaches the upper part of the wine boiler, and the other the tube g, g; this
tube is intended to convey into the column the wine that issues from the wine
boiler. E, a column supporting several platforms on which the wine drops,
and from whence it discharges into the boiler; this column is joined to the
boiler by means of the tube p, p, and to the wine boiler by the tubes i, i, i.
It has a lid which may be lifted up at discretion. i, i, i, a tube, one extremity
of which reaches the upper extremity of the serpentine within the wine
boiler D, and the other the column E. It is intended to convey into the
serpentine the alcoholic vapours which rise in the column, and are the produce
of distillation. K, the covering of the column which receives the tube i, i, i.
1,1,1, a tube that supports the cocks 2, 3, and 4; it reaches the condensitive C,
and the serpentine G. 0, 0, 0, platforms of the same diameter as the column,
but not fixed to it. In the centre of them is an aperture y, y, through which
arise the alcoholic vapours issuing from the boiler. These platforms have a
brim about an inch thick all round their circumference, likewise round the
aperture in the centre. Pretty near the centre are also several circles of
small holes, through which the wine drops in showers on the platform r, r.
p, p, a tube, one extremity of which reaches the colum E, and the other the
boiler F. It is through this tube that evaporate from the boiler those vapours
that arise to enter the column; it serves also to convey on the platforms the
wine that runs from the column. q, q, the cover of the boiler F, which has a
brim of several inches thick, that it may check the running of the water; it
operates in a similar to what is called a cooler in a chemist's still, with this
only difference, that the water is not replaced when hot but only when it
evaporates. r, r, platforms inclosed in the column; they are a few inches less
in diameter than those o, o, o, neither are they bored in the centre, but have a
projecting brim all round their circumference, and several circles of small
holes. s, a platform contained in the boiler F. This receives the wine that
issues from the column; the whole of it is pierced with numberless little holes.
t, t, compartments made of sheets of copper, which are either placed cross-

page_text: ways or in the shape of a spiral curve, as may be seen in Figure 2, vessel F;
they are intended to prevent the wine which is conveyed in the boiler, and that
contains some calcohol should mix with that that is near issuing, and which
must not contain any. If the compartments be placed cross-ways they are
only to be fixed to one of the sides, and to the bottom of the boiler, leaving an
interval of a few inches between the boiler and the other side; whereas if they
be ranged in a spiral line the curve must commence at the point to which is
fixed the tube at the bottom of the boiler, and end at the centre of the said
boiler. The space between those compartments, or between them and one of the
sides of the boiler, should be alternate; by which is meant, that if the interval
between the first compartment be on the right the next is to be on the left.
u, a tube of discharge through which the wine is discharged from the boiler;
that alone is discharged which is above its level, the boiler accordingly is never
but half full. v, a cock that serves to empty the boiler. F', a boiler constructed
within a stove; when under the former the fire is to be kindled, the pipe is to
turn once round the boiler before it is allowed to ascend. G, a vessel con-
taining a serpentine to cool by means of water. It is from its extremity
that the produce of the distillation are received issuing from the tube l, 1, but
not from that No. 4. Figure 2, an horizontal view of Fig. 1; the same letters
are indicative of the same objects in every figure. Figure 8, an horizontal
view of the box C, in which is to be seen the condenser it contains, and also
the manner in which it is placed. There is a tube d, d, d, by means of which
all the different revolutions of the condenser are connected together. To this
same tube are fixed all the tubes of the cocks Nos. 2, 3, and 4, through which
is discharged, when thought proper, such produce of the distillation as is con-
densated in the condenser. Figure 4, an horizontal view of platforms 0, 0, 0.
y, the opening in the center through which the vapours issue. The circles of
black dots represent the holes through which the wine drops in showers. y,y,
the apperture in the centre through which rise the vapours which issue from
the boiler. Figure 5: the platforms r, r, of the column, seen in a flight-of-bird
view, the diameter of which is less than that of the platforms o, o; besides,
the former are pierced with small holes all round their circumference, as
represented by little black dots, but they have no holes in their centre.
Directions for using the distillatory machine with the above-described
apparatus:-Pour some water into the boiler F till it runs out of the dis
charging tube u, then light a fire under the boiler. When it is near boiling
open the cock d of the regulator B. (I suppose that care has been taken to fill
the vessell A with wine.) The wine falls into the funnel of the tube e, e, e,
and streaming through the box C is conveyed into the wine boiler D, which it

page_text: fills as high up as the tube h, h; when arrived at that height it runs from the
tube h, h, into the tube g, g, from that into the column E, and then on the first
platform o, o. From thence it drops into showers through the little holes that
are bored round the apperture in the centre, and falls on the centre of the
platform r, r. This platform has little holes all round its circumference, through
which the wine drops, also in showers, to fall on the third platform o, o, and
so in a like manner from platform to platform, till at last it is discharged into
the boiler from the tube p, which conveyed it to the platform s. The
moment the wine reaches the boiler the water begins to be discharged through
the tube u; then the cock of the regulator B is to be shut. You must also
shut the cock No. 1 affixed to the tube f, which reaches from the wine boiler
to the condensor inclosed in the box C. When the boiler begins to boil, the
vapour that arises first enters the column, which it heats, and next the ser-
pentine of the wine boiler, and there condensates by communicating its
calorific to the wine that fills that vessel. The water that condensates runs
into the tube f. Now the cock No. 1 being shut, that water runs into the
condenser of the box C, meets the cock No. 2, which must be open, runs
through that cock into the tube 1, 1, and from thence into the serpentine G, and
finally is discharged at the point . When the tube No. 4 of the condenser C
begins to get hot, you must open the cock d of the regulator B, likewise that
No. 1 of the tube f, and at the same time leaving the cock No. 2 upon; the
distillation then is going to begin. The wine which runs from the regulator B
into the tube e, e, e, is conveyed into the lower extremity of the wine boiler,
and compels that which is in the upper part to run into the tube h, h, from
that into the tube g, g, from that into the column on the platform o, o, on that
r, r, and so on, until it drops into the boiler. The effect produced is as follows:
-The aqueous vapour that rises in the column meets the wine which is coming.
down in showers and contains the alcohol which it is intended to remove.
As the alcohol has acquired but a far smaller degree of heat in the process.
than is requisite for the water to be kept in a state of vaporation, the alcohol
carries off from the water in a state of vaporation the caloric which it requires.
to retain its fluidity, ascends into the serpentine, whilst the water from which
the alcohol has carried off the caloric resumes its liquidity, mixes with the
wine, with which its runs into the boiler. The alcoholic vapour which reaches
the serpentine mixes with the vapour of the water. In order that the sepa-
ration of the water and the alcohol should take, place it is requisite that the
alcoholic vapour should make its way through a medium the temperature of
which is such as to compel the water to condensate. To produce this effect
it suffices that the temperature of that medium be below that of boiling water.

page_text: This operation I call to dephlegm. This dephlegmation, at first, is partly
separated in the serpentine within the wine boiler. (The wine gets loaded
with the caloric which escapes from the water, and is almost boiling when the
distillation commences.) If you shut the cock No. 1, all the produce of the
distillation will be conveyed into the tube l, l, and the serpentine G. It will
prove to be merely brandy. If you open the cocks No. 1 and No. 2, all that
has condensated in the wine boiler will run through the cock No. 1 into the
tube g, g, and from thence return into the column and the distillation. On
the reverse, all that has been conveyed into the condenser C will run through
the cock No. 2 into the tub 1, 1, and from thence into the serpentine G.
This brandy will be much stronger than if you had allowed to be mixed with
it all that has condensated in the wine boiler. It will be a first spirit. If
you shut the cock No. 2 (leaving that No. 1 open) and open the cock No. 3,
you will have a second spirit stronger than the first, because all that has con-
densated from No. 8 is conveyed into the tube g, g, and from thence into the
distillation, and that there is only the produce of the condensation above the
cock No. 8 that runs into the tube l, 1, and is conveyed into the serpentine G.
If you shut the cocks No. 2 and No. 8, you will obtain a third spirit stronger
still than the two former, from this reason, because the alcoholic vapour alone
will have reached the tube Number 4, and will be conveyed into the ser-
pentine G. The temperature of the water in the box C is not the same in
all its parts, from which it proceeds that the alcoholic vapour is dephlegmated
more and more in its progress through the condenser. The wine that is con-
veyed in the wine boiler through the flat tube e, e, e, by gaining part of the
caloric which is disengaged, keeps the water in the condenser in a degree of
temperature low enough for the strongest alcohol to be procured from the
tube No. 4. If you only wish to obtain spirits you only need to use the wine
boiler; but then it must be larger, and contain a serpentine composed of
seven or eight circumvolutions. As soon as the distillation has begun you
may keep it going as long as you please; you need only take care of your fire,
and mind always to have the vessel A supplied with wine. The spirits you will
obtain will always be of the same degree, without there being any occasion to
repass aux petitis eaux. The dimensions for all the parts of the parts of the
apparatus are, viz' :-A boiler, four feet in diameter and three feet high; a
tube for the discharge, one foot high; the tube of the boiler bearing the cock,
and the tube of discharge, eighteen inches; a column, three feet high, con-
taining ten platforms; a wine boiler for brandy, thirty inches in diameter,
forty inches high; a serpentine with eight circumvolutions; a wine boiler for
spirits, twenty-four inches high, twenty-four inches in diameter; a serpentine

page_text: with 2%, circumvolutions; a condenser with fourteen revolutions like that of
Fig. 8, each revolution two feet long; the diameter of the different tubes,
one inch and an half; the diameter of the tube f, and of i, i, i, must be three
inches; the diameter of the tube h, h, and 9, 9, is to be of one inch and an
half. Distillatory machines for uninterrupted distillation may be made of any
shape and dimension. They may be constructed so as to warm by means of
fuel, hot water, or steam. Distillation by steam may be obtained either by
introducing the steam directly into the liquors or matters to be distilled, or by
causing those substances to run over surfaces heated by the steam. Instead
of the column E you may, by giving more elevation to the boiler, place
inside of it, above the compartments, four platforms, two of which should be
of the same diameter as the boiler, and the other two a few inches less.
These must be at three inches distance from one another, made in the same
shape, and placed in the like manner, with those of the column; that is to
say, the two largest with an aperture in the centre, and circles of small holes
all around that aperture, and the other two having holes only at their circum-
ference. The steam then will be conveyed directly from the boiler into the
wine boiler. To distil plants, grain, wood, fruit, or any other substance with-
out altering anything about the boiler, or reducing the fire, you must use a
boiler with two square columns. Inside of those columns are platformis
placed at a certain height above one another. The first are of metal, and
pierced with little holes through the whole length of the faces that pour on
the lower ones, through which the wine drops; between the platform on the
surface of which the wine runs, you place other platforms or testers made of
ozier or of wire less wide than the former. It is on these latter that you
place the substances the flavour or smell of which you wish to impregnate the
alcohol or water with, the vapours that rise from the boiler fill the whole
capacity of the column, throws a great heat on the substances to be distilled,
determine the volotilisation of whatever is susceptible of being volutized, and
the whole makes its way into the common condenser or serpentine of the wine
boiler. Both tubes that communicate from the boiler to the column must be
provided with a large cock, the same as the two tubes of the two columns
which reach the serpentine of the wine boiler. Whilst the distillation is
operating in one column you prepare the other; and, when the distillation
of the first column is compleated, you open the two cocks of the second
column; that is to say, the one which reaches from the boiler to the column,
and that that reaches from the column to the serpentine. You then shut
the two cocks of the column where the distillation is compleated. There
is also a tube at each column that conveys the wine from the boiler into the

page_text: column. Each of these tubes has a cock that you open or shut to introduce
the wine, as also to check the introduction of it. Machines may be con-
structed to be heated by steam to such an effect as to concentrate the sap of
substances of any kind, particularly that of the sugar cane, and to enable you
to bake sugar. To procure this latter effect, you must convey the steam that
rises from the boiler into hollow platforms, collected and connected together by
means of tubes. The platforms being placed one above another, you cause to
run over the surface of those platforms the juices whatever that you wish to
concentrate. This juice drops from one platform upon another, as it is in the
interior of those platforms that the steam rising from the boiler is conveyed.
It communicates in its progress it caloric to the juice that runs on their
surface, and determines the vaporation of the water. Each of these platforms
has a tube with a cock which communicates with a larger tube, which con-
veyes into the condenser or wine boiler the produce of the distillation that has
condensated into the interior of the platforms. The cocks are intended to
obtain the spirits at the degree desired. It is through uppermost that the
strongest spirit issues, because what has condensated in the lower platforms
returns into the distillation.
I have been obliged to unavoidably introduce, in the foregoing description,
that also of several objects that enter into the construction of those stills which
are commonly used. I consequently declare that I solicit a Patent merely
for the new Inventions or improvements which may be found in my description,
the chief amongst which is the continual distillation, and all the advantages
resulting therefrom, which are several in number, viz* :—
1st. To be able to operate without being necessiated to interrupt the distil-
lation to replenish or empty the boiler, which operations are continually
going on.
2d. The obtaining spirits of every degree, and always at the same degree,
without ever losing of their strength during the whole time of the operation, so
that there is no occasion to repass.
Sd. Not to require any water to cool the serpentine when plain mere
spirits are wanted, and to require only very little when spirits of every degree
are to be obtained; also, from a given quantity of wine, to procure a larger
quantity of spirits, and of a better flavor, than is generally done.
4th. Lastly, to consume much less fuel, and to require less labour.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cristoph Dihl, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixteen.
CRISTOPH (L.S.) DIHL.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourth day of June, in the
year of our Lord 1816, the aforesaid Cristoph Dihl came before our said Lord
the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute made for that purpose.