IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATINGATING OR COOLING LIQUIDS, OR CONDENSING STEAM AND OTHER VAPOURS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Willison, of Bank Street, Alloa, in the
County of Clackmannan, North Britain, Coppersmith and Brass-
founder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING
Sealed the 3rd May 1872, and dated the 9th November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Willison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th November 1871.
I, ROBERT WILLISON, of Bank Street, Alloa, in the County of Clack-
mannan, North Britain, Coppersmith and Brassfounder, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
HEATING OR COOLING LIQUIDS, OR CONDENSING STEAM AND OTHER VAPOURS," to be
as follows:-
:-
I place and fix any requisite number of thin metal plates of any
suitable size and thickness a proper distance apart, so that these plates or
diaphragms will form the sides of a series of cells of any requisite width.
A

page_text: These plates or diaphragms are held at a proper distance apart by means
of slips of any suitable material at the ends of the cells, while at their
lower ends I prefer to fix slips or castings of any suitable metal between
the plates so as to form their bottoms. The two outer plates are much
thicker and stronger than any of the others in the series, so as to be able
to bear a greater pressure and strain. These plates, slips, and slips or
castings, are all held firmly together by means of screwed bolts passed
through them, and are therein secured by nuts. By these means the
whole are compactly held together so as to form one vessel, dish, or
cistern, and divided into cells by means of the plates or diaphragms.
Near, in, or on the upper ends of these plates I fit, form or mount one or
more receptacles into which the liquid to be cooled is introduced. I form
this receptacle by means of U shaped pieces, cast or otherwise formed, of
such a thickness so that when their lower looped or doubled portions are
introduced into the upper part of each cell, and firmly fixed by means of
nuts screwed on bolts, which are passed through holes formed in the
U pieces and in the plates or diaphragms. By these means the trough
or receptacle is formed. Through the bottoms or looped portions of each
alternate U shaped piece or casting ports or passages are formed, so that
when liquor or liquids of any sort (say brewers' or distillers' worts for
instance) is introduced into the trough or receptacle it will pass through
these ports or passages into each alternate cell, and downwards through
these cells to the bottom, where it passes out through similar ports or
passages formed in the slips or castings which form the bottom portions
of these cells. Ports or passages are also formed in these bottom slips or
castings at any proper angle to the former ports or passages, so that
when the slips or castings are jointed and fixed in their proper places,
and the portions of the plates or diaphragms which are opposite these
ports or passages are cut away, a clear passage is formed through all the
cells from side to side, but which only is in communication with each
alternate cell through the vertical ports or passages formed in the
bottom slips or castings before mentioned. There may be any number
of cells, but in most cases I prefer an odd number, for instance, say fifty-
one; the cells having the odd numbers from one to fifty-one (both
included) being the one half of fifty-one, and one more, are in com-
munication with each other, while all those cells which have the even
numbers from two to fifty (both included) are likewise in communication
with each other through ports or passages similarly formed through the
bottom slips or castings. Where communication is not required no

page_text: I also connect the lower horizontal ports or passages together by
means of a mercurial syphon safety valve in such a manner so that
should there be any unequal pressure exerted against the plates or
diaphragms, the mercury or quicksilver in the syphon will give way and
be forced to either end and up into an enlarged portion of the syphon,
where it will allow either liquid to pass either way and so restore equili-
brium; and whenever that takes place the mercury or quicksilver will
flow back into its normal position and seals or stops up the syphon again,
and so prevents the intermixture of the different liquids. I sometimes
make use of strong brine for this purpose instead of quicksilver, or strong
brine covered with oil in each end of the syphon, but I prefer quick-
"silver. I make the lower portion of the connecting syphon of glass tube
so that the state of the mercury, quicksilver, or brine can always be

page_text: form small passages under them, the liquid flows upwards in the cells
between the slips and over their tops which in this case do not reach to
the upper edges of the plates and thus leave passages over their upper
ends over which the liquid flows, it then passes down in the cells between
the first set of slips and under the next set, and so on for each successive
set of slips, until it makes its exit at the lower and extreme corner where
it rises in one or more pipes to its proper level, as previously described.
At or near the same exit corner the cooling liquid, or that which is to
be heated, enters the other series of alternate cells and is caused to flow
in a similar tortuous but reverse direction, and finally passes off heated
(after extracting the heat from the descending liquid) by suitable over-
flows fitted to that series of cells, and is carried away by means of

page_text: strengthen the plates or diaphragms by means of screwed bolts which are
passed through the whole serics so as to enable the whole to stand the
requisite pressure without danger or risk to the apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Willison in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WILLISON, of Bank Street, Alloa, in the County of Clackmannan, North
Britain, Coppersmith and Brassfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Willison, Her special
licence that I, the said Robert Willison, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Willison,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING OR COOLING LIQUIDS, OR CONDENSING
STEAM AND OTHER VAPOURS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Robert Willison, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calender months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Willison, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the 30
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in

page_text: Drawings hereunto annexed (that is to say) :-
I place and fix any requisite number of thin metal plates of any
suitable size and thickness a proper distance apart, so that these plates or
diaphragms will form the sides of a series of cells of any requisite width.
These plates or diaphragms are held at a proper distance apart by means
of slips of any suitable material at the ends of the cells, while at their
lower ends I prefer to fix slips or castings of any suitable metal between
the plates, so as to form their bottoms. The two outer plates are much
thicker and stronger than any of the others in the series, so as to be
able to bear a greater pressure and strain. These plates, slips, and slips
or castings are all held firmly together by means of screwed bolts passed
through them, and are therein secured by nuts. By these means the
whole are compactly held together so as to form one vessel, dish, or
cistern, and divided into cells by means of the plates or diaphragms.
Near, in, or on the upper ends of these plates I fit, form, or mount one
or more receptacles into which the liquid to be cooled is introduced.
I form this receptacle by means of U shaped pieces, cast or otherwise
formed of such a thickness so that when their lower looped or doubled
portions are introduced into the upper part of each cell, and firmly fixed
by means of nuts screwed on bolts, which are passed through holes
formed in the U pieces and in the plates or diaphragms. By these
means the trough or receptacle is formed. Through the bottoms or
looped portions of each alternate U shaped piece or casting ports or
passages are formed, so that when liquor or liquids of any sort (say
brewers' or distillers' worts for instance) is introduced into the trough
or receptacle it will pass through these ports or passages into each
alternate cell, and downwards through these cells to the bottom, where
it passes out through similar ports or passages formed in the slips or
castings which form the bottom portions of these cells. Ports or
passages are also formed in these bottom slips or castings at any proper
angle to the former ports or passages, so that when the slips or castings
are jointed and fixed in their proper places, and the portions of the
plates or diaphragms which are opposite these ports or passages are cut
away, a clear passage is formed through all the cells from side to side,
but which only is in communication with each alternate cell through
the vertical ports or passages formed in the bottom slips or castings
before mentioned. There may be any number of cells, but in most

page_text: is
cases I prefer an odd number, for instance say fifty-one; the cells
having the odd numbers from one to fifty-one (both included) being the
one half of fifty, and one more, are in communication with each other,
while all those cells which have the even numbers from two to fifty
(both included) are likewise in communication with each other through
ports or passages similarly formed through the bottom slips or castings.
Where communication is not required no vertical port or passage
formed to communicate with either of the horizontal ones, so by these
means the worts or liquid in the cells having the even numbers are kept
entirely separate from the liquid in the cells which have the odd
numbers, and cannot mix, but may have different temperatures. The
liquid which is being cooled passes downwards through the cells and
out at the vertical ports or passages (which are formed in the bottom
slips or castings) into the longer and larger horizontal passage, both ends
of which passage may be connected by means of two side pipes joining
into one pipe placed vertical, or nearly so, and raised to such a height
so as to form a suitable overflow to correspond to the height of the
cells, or a suitable stand-up overflow pipe may be mounted at each end
of the horizontal passage. The other large horizontal passage which
is formed in the bottom, and which only communicates with the cells
which have the odd numbers, is for the inlet (at the bottom). of a
current of cold water or other cooling liquid, and which flows upwards
through the corresponding cells (in a contrary direction to that of the
liquid which is being cooled), and after getting heated by the descending
liquid, steam, or vapour it passes through suitable overflows into a pipe
or other receptacle, which may convey it to any proper distance and
place for further use.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that each of the cells
having the even numbers feed themselves by means of the gravity of
the descending worts, liquid, steam, or other vapours. The feed is
likewise regulated by means of the descending liquids or vapours giving
out their heat to the ascending cooling liquid, and which causes the
descending liquids or vapours to flow faster or slower in conformity
with their temperatures, which are again governed by the greater or
'less cooling power applied.
I sometimes so construct my apparatus that I can make use of every
two or more alternate cells to form a series, instead of every single
alternate cell as already described. To each of the pipes for charging

page_text: and discharging or regulating the flow of the liquids or vapours through
the apparatus I fit a suitable stop-cock, sluice, valve, or double valve,
and gear or connect them together in such a manner that they shall
open and shut simultaneously, so that the flow of liquids or vapours
will always be easily regulated and the pressure in the cells can always
be kept as near as possible in equilibrium.
I also connect the lower horizontal ports or passages together by
means of a mercurial syphon safety valve in such a manner so that
should there be any unequal pressure exerted against the plates or
diaphragms, the mercury or quicksilver in the syphon will give way and
be forced to either end and up into an enlarged portion of the syphon,
where it will allow either liquid to pass either way and so restore
equilibrium, and whenever that takes place the mercury or quicksilver
will flow back into its normal position and seals or stops up the syphon
again, and so prevents the intermixture of the different liquids. I
sometimes make use of strong brine for this purpose instead of quick-
silver, or strong brine covered with oil in each end of the syphon, but I
prefer quicksilver. I make the lower portion of the connecting syphon
of glass tube, so that the state of the mercury, quicksilver, or brine can
always be seen.
The communication can at any time be cut off by means of a suitable
cock, sluice, or valve, fixed between the passages and syphon. I apply
suitable stop-cocks, valves, or double beat valves, at the bottom or lower
end of the apparatus in connection with the pipes or passages of both
series of cells for the purpose of emptying all the cells simultaneously
when required.
To suit special places where there is deficient head room I make the
cells much shallower, but I extend the apparatus horizontally so as to
get the required heating or cooling surface, and I make the entrance
and exit passages at the extreme and diagonal upper and bottom corners
of the cells, and cause the liquids to flow from either corner to the other
in a zig-zag, tortuous, or serpentine manner by inserting tubes, slips of
wood, metal, or other material into the spaces or cells between the
plates or diaphragms. These slips are of less length than the depth of
the cells, and are placed in the cells after this fashion, for instance, at
or near the upper inlet for the liquid (to be cooled) one of these slips is
placed in each corresponding alternate cell, the upper ends of which

page_text: slips are flush with the tops or upper edges of the plates or diaphragms,
so that no liquid can pass over the same, but as the slips are shorter
than the cells are in depth, they do not reach to the bottoms, but
leave open spaces under them which allow the liquid to pass down and
under them, but as the next set of slips in the same cells are placed so
that they very nearly reach to the bottoms and thus leave very much
smaller spaces which form small passages under them the liquid flows
upwards in the cells between the slips and over their tops, which in this
case do not reach to the upper edges of the plates and thus leave
passages over their upper ends over which the liquid flows, it then
passes down in the cells between the first set of slips and under the next
set, and so on for each successive set of slips untill it makes its exit at the
lower and extreme corner, where it rises in one or more pipes to its
proper level, as previously described. At or near the same exit corner
the cooling liquid, or that which is to be heated, enters the other series
of alternate cells and is caused to flow in a similar tortuous but reverse
direction, and finally passes off heated (after extracting the heat from
the descending liquid) by suitable overflows fitted to that series of cells,
and is carried away by means of suitable pipes or troughs to any
convenient place.
Similar suitable stop-cocks, sluices, valves, or double beat valves are
also fitted to this modification of my apparatus, also one or more of my
safety syphon valve or valves already described.
By leaving the small spaces under the slips as already described, the
apparatus can be much easier emptied and more thoroughly cleaned.
Instead of these slips I sometimes make use of tubes of the requisite
length, and form two ports or passages near their ends, but on opposite
sides. These are placed in the cells, and by allowing the liquor to pass
in at their lower and out at their upper ends in succession, serve the
same purpose as the already described slips. Little or no current of
liquid will flow through the smallest spaces under the alternnate slips or
tubes, on account of their small proportions compared with the largest
sized spaces, and also on account of the lowest portion or strata of the
descending liquid being colder and denser than the upper strata.
When I make use of either of the modifications of apparatus to 3
condense steam or other vapours I furnish the same with a properly
jointed lid or cover, and allow the steam or other vapour to pass or flow.

page_text: into one of the sets of cells, while I allow cold water or other cooling
liquid to flow through the other set of cells, which will extract the heat
and so condense the steam or other vapours, which will then pass off as
distilled liquid.
When I make use of the apparatus as a steam or vapour condenser I
strengthen the plates or diaphragms by means of screwed bolts, which
are passed through the whole series so as to enable the whole to stand
the requisite pressure without danger or risk to the apparatus.
In order to shew clearly the manner in which I carry the same into
effect, I will now proceed to describe the same more fully, and with
reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sectional elevations of my apparatus taken
at right angles to each other; Figure 1. is taken through the dotted
lines A, A, of Figure 2; and Figure 3 is a plan of the same with a small
portion shown broken away, so that the feeding trough and some of the
vertical passages may be seen. Similar letters refer to similar parts.
B, B, are the main and outer side plates of the apparatus, set at a
distance apart suitable for the size of vessel intended.
The space
between these plates at their edges and lower ends is filled in with thin
plates of metal C, C, and slips of wood, or castings of metal D, D,
alternately. These slips or castings are only of such a width as to form
the other sides E, E, and bottom of the vessel E, when they are firmly
fixed together by means of the long through bolts a, a, a, a, a, a, a,
which have nuts b, b, firmly screwed up on their ends. Between the
ends of the plates C, C, horse-shoe or U shaped pieces or castings
upper
G, G, are inserted, and are all held firmly together by means of similar
long through bolts c, c, c, c, and nuts d, d. The portions of the thin
plates C, C, which project into the hollow or interior H of the horse-
shoe or U shaped pieces G, G, are cut out flush with the inner edges of
the pieces G, G, and thus forms a trough I in the upper portion of the
vessel. The bottom of this trough is under the level of the upper ends
of the plates, while the upper edges or lips of the trough rise some
distance above them. In the bottoms of each alternate U shaped piece
Ga port or passage or ports or passages J, J, are cast or otherwise formed
vertically. In this case these ports or passages are formed in the
U shaped pieces G which have the even numbers, while those having the
odd numbers have no vertical ports or passages formed in them, but are

page_text: merely blank, and form a water-tight bottom to the trough where they
are fixed, and thus all communication between the interior of the trough
and the cells or spaces K, K, which have the odd numbers is cut off.
In the Drawings I have shown the vessel as containing fifty-one cells
or spaces, of which number twenty-six, from one to fifty-one (both
included) are the odd, and twenty-five, from two to fifty (both included)
are the even numbers; but I do not confine myself to these entirely, as
any requisite number may be made use of so as to suit the work to be
performed. I have shown the trough as having a cover L bolted on, and
with a bent air vent pipe L' fixed on to it; but in some cases I dispense
with these and leave the trough open or uncovered, according to the
state of the levels of the top of the vessel, and the reservoir or pipe from
which the worts or liquids which are to be cooled flow. I have shown
in the Drawings as if the liquids or worts to be cooled flowed into the
one end of the trough where that portion of one of the main side
plates B, which would project into and stop up the one end of the trough
is also cut away flush, similar to the other thin inside plates C, C. A
casting or pipe M having a flange on one end is firmly secured to the
side plate B, and forms a continuation of the trough, and projects for
some distance.
In the upper side of this casting or pipe a passage
having a valve seat is formed, and which is opened and shut by the
valve N. The valve casing N¹ is shown as having a flanged inlet cast
or otherwise formed on it, and to which a flanged end of a pipe N³ is
secured. This pipe (as shown broken off) serves for an inlet or feeding
pipe from a worts or liquid reservoir not shown in the Drawings. The
valve is opened or shut by means of its spindle, which passes through a
stuffing box e. The upper end of the spindle has a screw cut on it
which fits and passes through a nut f, which is turned and fits into a
bearing formed in the bracket 9; this nut is free to revolve in its bearing
when acted on through the bevel wheels h and i. The bevel wheel h is a
firmly secured on the projecting upper end of the turned nut, and when
nesessary receives motion from the bevel wheel i, which is secured on
the shaft j. The valve spindle is prevented from revolving by means of
the toothed wheel k, which is firmly keyed or otherwise fixed on its
upper end, and which is kept in any position required by means of the 3
spring catch 7. This spring catch prevents the wheel and valve spindle
from turning, but it allows them to rise or fall freely when required.
One end of the shaft j revolves in a bearing m formed in the bracket g,

page_text: while at or near the other end it is supported and revolves in a bearing
in the boss n, which boss has another boss or socket n¹ cast on it, in
which another bearing is formed, and in which the upper end of the
upright shaft o revolves. O, O¹, are two mitre or bevel wheels, one of
which is secured on the shaft j, and the other O¹ on the upright
shaft o; P is a hand wheel fixed on the end of the shaft o for turning
and moving all the wheels, shafts, and connections by; P¹is a projecting
bracket with bearing for supporting the upright shaft o. Part of the
upright shaft o is shown broken out to allow room for the drawing of
the upper outlet pipe in Figure 2. The upright shaft o revolves at its
lower end in a step formed in the projecting bracket P³. This bracket
is firmly secured to the side of a valve casing P³, which valve, valve
casing, and their parts, are similar to that already described for the hot
worts or hot liquids inlet at or near to the top of vessel. This valve is for
an inlet for cold water or other cooling liquid at or near the lower or
bottom part of the vessel.
The inlet is partly formed in the bottom, and will be hereafter
described. Ps is the valve casing; P' is the cold water or other cooling
liquid inlet; P is the valve bracket; p is the revolving nut; p¹ is the
wheel, secured on the nut to turn it by; p² is a pinion fixed on the
upright shaft o for working into the wheel p; p³ is the valve spindle
with a screw cut on it which fits into and is raised by the nut p; p¹ is
the wheel securely fixed on the upper end of the valve spindle, and is
laid hold of by the spring catch p' to prevent the spindle from turning
when once properly set. The valves are properly set by means of these
springs and catch wheels thus:-The catches are drawn out of their
respective catch wheels, and these wheels are then turned round so as to
bring each valve hard into its seat, the catches are then allowed to lay
hold of the wheels by entering into the notches which prevent them
turning. The valves can then be raised or lowered and shut or opened
simultaneously by turning round the hand or spoked wheel P. These
wheels and screws are of such a size and pitch so that the valves will be
shut or opened to the same extent and in the same time, or they may be
so, proportioned that the valves may have differential movements. In
the slips or castings which are secured between the plates (by the
through bolts and nuts) at the lower end of the vessel, and which when
all are fixed in their proper places form the bottom, ports or passages
J', J', are also formed to coincide with those ports or passages J, J,

page_text: which are formed in the U shaped pieces, and which form the bottom of
the feeding trough at the top of the vessel. These ports or passages J, J,
and J, J, at both top and bottom are in communication with the spaces
(between the plates) which have the even numbers. The ports or
passages J, J¹, formed in the bottom slips or castings open into a large
orifice or port J* formed in each slip or casting, so that when these slips
or castings are in their proper places, and the portions of the plates
which come opposite or would otherwise close up these ports or passages
in the slips or castings were cut out, a long transverse passage across
and through the plates will thus be formed clean through from side to
side of the vessel. Similar ports or passages J³ are also formed in these
slips or castings so as to open up a communication by means of the
vertical passages J*, J*, shewn in dotted lines with those spaces having
the odd numbers. . This is done by reversing the slips or castings or by
turning each alternate one end for end. When all are placed in position
and firmly secured together these large passages or ports will com-
municate by means of their vertical ports with their respective spaces,
but they will be completely water-tight and have no communication
with each other. At each side of the vessel of the apparatus there are
two castings of flanged branched pipes Q, Q, which are firmly secured
thereto; these are in communication with the large transverse port or
passage (which by means of the vertical ports or passages in the bottom
slips or castings) communicates with the even number of spaces which
are fed through the ports or passages in the bottom of the feeding
trough at or near the upper end of the vessel. Q¹ is an inlet pipe
which leads into the valve casing, and into the other similar large
transverse passage which communicates by the other vertical ports or
passages with the spaces between the plates which have the odd
numbers. This valve and passages are for the purpose of letting cold
water or other cooling liquid flow into the vessel, which water or liquid
as it gets heated ascends or rises in the spaces between the plates and
discharges over the upper ends of the long vertical slips which have the
odd numbers, and which are kept shorter than the others, and do not
reach to the top of the vessel. After the water or cooling liquid which
has become heated has arrived at the top of the vessel it is discharged
into a trough R which may be fixed to the side of the vessel, and may
be then conveyed to any proper receptacle or reservoir by the pipe R¹
for further use. The hot worts or liquid which is to be cooled enters
from and through the flanged pipe N2, and the quantity is regulated by

page_text: the valve N, and passes through the pipe or casting M, and enters into
the trough I where it descends by its gravity through the ports or
passages in the bottom of the trough into the cells or spaces (having
the even numbers) between the thin diaphragms; as it gets cooled it
keeps descending while the cooling water or liquid on the opposite sides
of the diaphragms is ascending. It will thus be seen that the flows of
these liquids are in opposite or reverse directions. When the cooled
worts or liquids reach the bottom of the vessel it passes out from the
spaces or cells through the small vertical ports or passages into the
transverse large one, and may be led into two stand-up pipes R², R³,
which are placed one on each side of the main vessel. These pipes are
shewn broken off, but they rise to a sufficient height and to such a level
as will secure a regular flow of the worts or other liquid which is being
cooled. From the stand-up pipes the worts or liquid may be conveyed
by means of pipes to any convenient receptacle for further use.
Although I have shewn two stand-up pipes I sometimes make use of
one only by connecting pipes between the side transverse passages and
joining them into one large stand-up pipe. I have shewn the castings
or short flanged branched pipes Q, Q, as having lids q, q, fitted to them,
which lids are firmly fixed by the glands q¹, q¹, and screws q², q². These
are for the convenience of opening and cleaning out the passages easily,
or they may be hinged to the flanges of the pipes Q, Q. The opposite
ends of the passages are connected together by means of the piping
Q², Q². At one side is shown a drop pipe furnished with a stop-cock Q³
so that the whole of the spaces, cells, ports and passages can be emptied
all at one and the same time. As shewn in Figure 2 a stop-cock Q* is
fixed between the pipes Q² and Q so that when this stop-cock is opened
all the cells are put into communication with each other, and when the
stop-cock Q³ is opened all the cells in the vessel will be emptied at the
same time. I also connect all the cells together by means of a mercurial
syphon safety valve S, one end S¹ of which is in communication with the
one large horizontal passage J' and the other end S³ with the other
passage J. T is the bent glass syphon the ends of which are secured
and made tight in the castings T', T'; T², T², are stop-cocks formed on
or mounted on these castings; r is a rod which connects the levers or
handles, r¹, of the cocks together, and r is a rod having a handle formed
on it for opening or shutting both cocks at once.
quantity of mercury or quicksilver placed in the bend
There is a sufficient
of the glass syphon,

page_text: when both cocks are left open, and an equal pressure exerted by the
liquids in the cells the quicksilver will remain in the bend and seal up
all communication between each series of cells, but if the liquid gets
lower in one series of cells than the other series then the quicksilver will
be driven out of the syphon or bend towards whichever end of the tubes
there is least pressure on and up into the enlargement in the passage
beneath the nearest cock, where it will be kept by the passing of the
liquid from the one series of cells to the other series untill the equilibrium
be restored, when the quicksilver will then flow downwards to the syphon
and seal up the passage as before. If necessary the communication
between the ends of the syphon and the series of cells can be cut off by
means of the stop-cocks T2, T*. I sometimes make use of strong brine
for this purpose instead of quicksilver, or strong brine covered with oil
in each end of the syphon, but I prefer quicksilver. By making use of
a glass syphon the state of the quicksilver or brine and oil can always be
easily ascertained.
To suit special places where there is deficient head room I make the
cells much shallower, but I extend the apparatus horizontally so as to get
the required heating or cooling surface, and I make the entrance and exit
passages at the extreme and diagonal upper and bottom corners of the
cells and cause the liquids to flow from either corner to the other in a
zig-zag, tortuous, or serpentine manner. Figure 4 is a sectional elevation
of this modification of my apparatus, and Figure 5 is a plan of the same.
V, V, are the main side plates; W, W, are the thin plates or diaphragms;
V, V, V, are the bottom and end slips or castings; & is the inlet for the
worts or other liquid to be cooled, and s¹ is its outlet from the apparatus
to the stand-up pipe or pipes; t is the inlet for the cooling water or
other cooling liquid; and t is its outlet after being gathered into a trough
* from the cells t³, s, t, from which it flows into the trough over the
upper ends of the slips u, u, u, which are inserted or fixed in the cells
,, having the odd numbers, which slips are of such a length that
they will reach to the bottom of the vessel or nearly so, but which do not
reach the upper edges of the plates of the vessel; by these means an
overflow space
is formed over the slips u, u, U.
The arrows drawn in full lines show the direction in which the worts
or liquid to be cooled runs, and those arrows in dotted lines in like
manner show that in which the cooling water or cooling liquid runs, it
enters into the vessel at the inlet pipe or passage t, and passes over the

page_text: nearest slips u, u, inserted in the cells t³, ³, in the direction of the dotted
arrow, where it rises upwards and flows over the next slip in the same
cells, and then under the next slips, and so on in the same tortuous
manner untill it arrives at the further end of the vessel, where it is
discharged into the trough t³, and finally makes its exit through the pipe
or passage, from where it may run into a reservoir or receptacle for
further use if required. The worts or liquid to be cooled enters at the
inlet 8, and passes downwards through the ports or passages 8³, 8³, formed
in the bottom of the feeding trough (the slips or castings which compose
the trough may be formed in a piece with the bottom and end slips), it
then passes under the first set of slips, and rises upwards and passes over
the upper ends of the next series of slips, it then descends and passes
under the next series, and so on in the direction of the full lined arrows
until it gets cooled, and at last makes its exit at the outlet 8
into a stand-up pipe or pipes, similar to that already described, from
which it is conveyed by piping or troughs to any suitable cistern or
reservoir.
To clean out the vessel in this modification of my apparatus I
sometimes make use of a set or sets of small sluices or valves x, x, fitted
into the spaces between the plates and up against the last set of slips,
that the worts or other liquid that is being cooled passes over. These
sluices or valves when the apparatus is in work are set close down to the
bottom and so shut up all the small passages under the slips, but when
it is necessary to empty the vessel and clean it out these sluices are
drawn up by means of the bent levers y, y, which are connected to their
respective set of sluices by means of rods, or I connect them all in such
a manner that one bent lever will raise the whole of them at once.
Instead of these sluices I sometimes form double transverse passages
z, z¹, in the bottom of the vessel, each of these passages is in connection
with each series of spaces in front of the last slips, so that by opening a
cock or valve mounted to each of these passages, the whole can be
opened and emptied at once.
Instead of forming these passages in the bottom slips I sometimes
mount a pipe or pipes under the bottom, having branches to each space,
and which pipe or pipes may have a cock or cocks, or a valve or valves,
to empty the whole by, or they may be connected together so as to open
and shut simultaneously.

page_text: :
Either of these may be also fitted to the following described modifi-
cation Figure 6 is a portion of a longitudinal vertical sectional
elevation of another slight modification of my apparatus. In this
modification I make use of tubes v, v, composed of any suitable metal or
material instead of the slips as formerly described. I form two ports in 5
the opposite sides of each tube near their ends as shewn at v¹, v², the
worts or liquid that is being cooled passes into the interior of the tubes
through the ports v³, it ascends through the tubes and flows out of them
through the upper ports o², ², formed in the opposite sides of the tubes
and so on in the direction of the arrows untill it is cooled enough, when 1
it then leaves the vessel through the port v³. These tubes are inserted
in the cells which have the even numbers, and a similar series of tubes
is inserted into those cells which have the odd numbers. These are for
the passing of the cooling water or other cooling liquid which enters at
the inlet w, and passes into the spaces or cells which have the odd 1
numbers, and passes through the tubes inserted in these cells in a
similar manner to the worts or liquid which is getting cooled, but in a
reverse direction, and leaves the vessel and makes its exit in a similar
manner to that described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.
When I make use of either of the modifications of apparatus to con-
dense steam or other vapours, I furnish the same with a properly jointed
lid or cover, and strengthen the plates or diaphragms by means of screwed
bolts which are passed through the whole series so as to enable the
whole to stand the requisite pressure without danger or risk to the
apparatus. The steam or other vapour is allowed to pass or flow into ?
one of the series of cells while I allow cold water or other cooling liquid
to flow through the other series, which will extract the heat and so con-
dense the steam or other vapours, which will then pass off as distilled
liquid.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not mean to confine :
myself entirely to the shape and construction of my different modifi-
cations of apparatus so long as the principle of my Invention is not
departed from.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
First. The making of liquid or wort coolers or heaters and steam or
vapour condensers by means of thin plates or diaphragms, as described
and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: Second. The making of wort coolers and steam or vapour condensers
in such manner that the cooling matters shall flow in the reverse or
contrary direction to that which is getting lowered in temperature by
causing the cooling matters to flow in the spaces between the thin plates
or diaphragms alternately with that of the matters getting cooled, and
vice versa, as described and represented in the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
Third. The connecting of the several inlet and outlet valves, sluices,
or cocks of coolers, heaters, or condensers, so that they can be opened
and shut simultaneously, as described and partly shewn in the Drawings.
Fourth. The making and mounting to liquid or wort coolers, or steam
and vapour condensers of mercurial syphon safety valves, as described
and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The method of forming passages or ports of communication for
inlets and outlets for liquid or wort coolers or steam and vapour con-
densers in the slips or castings which separate or keep the several
diaphragms apart, as described and shown in the Drawings annexed
thereto.
Sixth. The combinations of the various improvements and modifi-
cations herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Willison, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-two.
25
JOHN THOMSON,
Witness.
JAMES CLARK,
Witness.
ROBERT WILLISON. (L.S.)