IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF TAR AND OTHER LIQUIDS "
Year: 1882

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LETTERS PATENT to William Maxwell of Gartsherrie, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain for an
Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE
DISTILLATION OF TAR AND OTHER LIQUIDS "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Maxwell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st August 1882.
WILLIAM MAXWELL of Gartsherrie, in the County of Lanark, North Britain
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF TAR AND OTHER LIQUIDS"
This invention which relates to the distillation of tar and other liquids has more
especially for its object to facilitate the separation of a liquid such as water with
which the tar has become mixed in the operation of scrubbing in or by analogous
operations; it may
also be used for the separation, distillation, or breaking up of
other liquids or substances mixed or unmixed.
The invention consists in placing inside the still a number of pipes dipping down
into the water or other liquid with which tars, or other liquids have become or are
mixed so that as soon as the water or other liquid which distills or boils off at a
lower temperature than the tar or other substance with which it is mixed begins
to distill or boil off its vapour passes at once directly up through the pipes without
interference by the tar or other substance and at once escapes by the still head. In
this manner and by this apparatus the water or other liquid is very rapidly
separated from the tar or other liquid with which it is mixed.

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SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters. Patent filed
by the said William Maxwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th January 1883.
WILLIAM MAXWELL of Gartsherrie, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF TAR AND OTHER LIQUIDS"
N
.
My said Invention which relates to the distillation of tar and other liquids has
more especially for its object to facilitate the separation of liquids such as water
or oils with which the tar has become mixed in the operation of "scrubbing" or
by analogous operations; it may also be used for the separation, distillation or
breaking up of other liquids or substances mixed or unmixed.
The Invention consists in placing inside the still a number of pipes dipping down
into the water, oils or other liquid with which tars or other liquids have become
or are mixed so that as soon as the water, oils or other liquid, which distils or boils
off at a lower temperature than the tar or other substance with which it is mixed,
begins to distil or boil off its vapour passes at once directly up through the pipes
without interference, by the tar or other substance and at once escapes by the
still head.
In this manner and by this apparatus the water, oil or other liquid, is very
rapidly separated from the tar or other liquid with which it is mixed.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon that is
to say:
Figure 1, represents in part vertical section, a still fitted with apparatus consti-
tuting my present Invention.
Figure 2, represents a horizontal section of the same with the still-head
removed.
Figure 3, represents in side elevation another form of still fitted with apparatus
constituting my present invention.
Figures 4, and 5, represent respectively a side and end elevation of a horizontal
cylindrical still fitted with apparatus constituting my present invention.
In carrying my invention into practice, I fit upon the inside of the still, a light
angle-iron or equivalent rack a, which forms the support for carrying the light
framing b. In this light framing b, are carried the pipes c, by the coupling-
pieces d, or by their equivalents, which are tapped or rivetted thereto, and to the
framing b. The pipes c, are perforated at their lower ends with several rows of
holes e. I preferably place the pipes c, at a distance apart corresponding to their
diameters. I also provide the still with a small pipe f, passing through the side
of the same, and which at the part thereof outside the still is fitted with a stop
valve g, and the lower or horizontal portion of the pipe inside the still is per-
forated. This pipe f, is connected with a compressed-air engine, and is or may be
inade to discharge compressed-air into the still.-In Figures 1, 2, and 3, when the
still-head is removed, the pipes c, and their carrying framings or attachments may.
be lifted out from the still. I may also provide the horizontal still represented at
Figures 4, and 5, with a means whereby this result may be arrived at if found
necessary.
In operation, the tar, oil or other liquid to be distilled rises a considerable
distance above the bottoms of the pipes c, say for example that the still is charged
to about two-thirds or three-fourths of its depth with the liquid to be distilled,
thus the water and oil or the vapour of water and oil that has or may have become

page_text: mixed with the tar or other substance undergoing distillation within the still, passes
off through the pipes c, direct to the still-head without being interfered with in its
passage thereto by the holding or confining action of the tars which when tar is
distilled in an ordinary still, prevents the escape or separation of water, oil or steam
or other liquid or gases therefrom.-The volume of the vapour of water, oil or
steam from the tar is or may be still further facilitated when compressed air is
forced into the mass through the pipe f, which rapidly agitates the liquid and thus
enables it to part with the vapour that might otherwise have been prevented from
escaping.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system mode or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
The placing of the vertical pipes c, within a still as shewn on the accompanying
drawings, with or without the use of a compressed-air tube and for the purpose of
facilitating the disengaging or separation of water, oil or other liquids from tars
while undergoing distillation, thereby considerably shortening the time occupied
in the process of distilling tars, oils and other liquids substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Maxwell have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Ninth day of January in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
WILLIAM MAXWELL (L.S.)