Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1887
Specification Accepted, 20th Dec., 1887
We, ANDREW MCNAIR COYLE a Citizen of the United States, residing at
Washington, in the District of Columbia, U.S.A. Mechanical Engineer ELIPHALET
FRAZER ANDREWS and EDWARD CRAWFORD DAVIDSON of Washington aforesaid
Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of our invention is to provide a still which will be perfectly self-
regulating, and effect distillation by an improved economical method of operation.
While the apparatus is intended specially to distil water for laboratory and domestic
use, it may be used for all sorts of distillation.
In many cities the water supply has, of late years, been most dangerously con-
taminated and the need of some simple apparatus by which each household may, with
the utmost facility and minimum of expense, obtain an abundance of practically
chemically pure water has been seriously felt. A leading object of this invention is
to supply that want.
We will now describe a specific practical and desirable form of the invention―
without however in any manner limiting ourselves to the special details of
construction.
In the accompanying drawing-
Fig. 1 is a front view, the drip pipe h³ and jacket G of the retort being cut away
on the line 1, 1, of Fig. 2. The interior construction is illustrated by dotted lines.
Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section.
Fig. 3, a detail view, illustrating the application of the apparatus to an ordinary
domestic range.
Fig. 4, a perspective view of a still with the jacket of the retort partly broken
away;
and
Fig. 5, a detail view illustrating a modified construction by which the still is
adapted either for alcoholic or water distillation.
The condenser A is shown as rectangular in cross-section. It is of the Liebig
type, and consists of a jacket or casing within which one or more flat condensing
tubes or passages B are arranged-one tube only being shown in the drawing. Its
[Price 8d. I

page_text: upper end is open and extends nearly to the top of the jacket of the condenser ; and the
lower end is also shown as open for the discharge of the condensed distillate. Water
is supplied from any suitable source of constant supply to the condensing jacket
through a pipe a connected at the. bottom of the condenser. At a' an overflow or
discharge pipe is connected with the jacket and carried up outside of the condenser
and retort to the proper height to maintain the desired water-level in the jacket, and
also in the retort or distilling drum, as is presently described. A retort C-preferably
circular is arranged alongside the upper portion of the jacket A and is supplied
With
with water by a pipe c connecting the jacket with the retort near its bottom.
the conditions and connections described the water-level will be the same in the retort,
jacket and overflow pipe; and with a small constant water supply at a there will be
a small constant overflow at a². The dotted lines, X Y, in Figs. 1 and 2 indicate the
water level.
There is communication by means of the pipe or opening D¹ between the upper
part or steam-space of the retort C and a compartment D in the upper end of the
jacket A. This compartment opens into the top of the condensing tube B through
lips d which enter the tube sufficiently to produce slight aspiration should steam be
blown through them.
If heat be applied to the retort C by means of the ordinary Bunsen gas-burner E
(which is illustrated as supported by arms or brackets projecting from the condenser
jacket) or otherwise, steam generated therein will pass into the compartment D and
blow down the condensing tube B. The steam in condensing gives up its heat to the
ascending water in the condenser which is thereby highly heated and enters the
retort at c at about the boiling point.
The automatic operation and the organization thus far described are, so far as we
are aware, new. If therefore there were no communication from the surface of the
water in the jacket A to the open top of the condensing tube, the construction and
operation would be within the scope of our invention.
In order however to improve the economical operation and obtain better results we
make the still by preference according to the principle involved in the construction
illustrated for the following reason: The aspirating action of the steam blowing into
the top of the condensing tube reduces the pressure on the column of highly heated
water in the condenser jacket and the water bursts into vapor which is carried by the
aspiration down the condensing tube. The vapor from the water in the jacket A in
condensing gives up less heat than that from the retort C, and as the latter is amply
sufficient to heat the water to the desired point, proportionally less condensing surface
is necessary.
So far as we are aware we are the first to heat the supply-water by the steam from
the retort, and utilize the steam to decrease the pressure on the surface of the supply-
water thus heated and thereby convert it into vapor. Of course the operation is not
dependent on the special apparatus shown.
If desired the jacket at the water-level may be enlarged to afford a greater surface
for vaporization.
The retort is provided with a sediment-tap F. By opening the tap and supplying
an increased flow of water, any sediment in the retort will be drawn off.
To prevent waste of heat by radiation the sides of the retort may be protected by a
jacket G. Any suitable casing of asbestos-or any known means for preventing
waste by radiation-may of course be employed.
The water of condensation may fall into a drip box H provided with one or more
inclined shelves-preferably of wire gauze and perforated as shown at h, so that the
water will be thoroughly aerated. Charcoal h, or other material, may, if desired, be
placed in the bottom of the box to improve the taste or quality of the water. h³ is
the drip tube or outlet of the box. Any suitable form of aerator may be attached to
the apparatus that shown is however deemed entirely sufficient whenever an aerator
is desired.
xx represent perforated ears or straps by means of which the apparatus may be
hung upon a wall or carrying board.

page_text: In use the apparatus may be hung on the wall in convenient proximity to a
water-cock and gas tap, if gas is to be used to heat the retort. The inlet tube a is
connected with the water faucet by means of a piece of rubber tubing or otherwise,
and the Bunsen burner is similarly connected with the gas tap or burner. The faucet
being operated to permit the flow of a small stream of water, the condenser jacket,
retort, and overflow pipe will fill until the water reaches the level X Y, at which it
will be maintained by the constant overflow at a². The Bunsen burner being lighted,
steam will be generated in the retort, and the operation indicated in the above
description will continuously take place. So long as the flow of water and gas continues
the operation is entirely automatic and the apparatus requires absolutely no attention.
To work most economically, the water supply should be reduced until the overflow
at a² is warm. The warm overflow need not be wasted, but may be delivered into a
vessel for use.
By connecting the overflow pipe about half way up the condenser, all of the very
hot water at the top is retained and the water-level maintained by the overflow of
merely warm water. The supply of water at a may be so increased that the overflow
will be cold.
Any suitable construction for fully utilizing the heat of the burner may be adopted,
as, for instance, such expedients as are resorted to in steam boilers, etc.
The material of which the still is made may be copper, tin, or any other suitable
metal, and, if desired, may be porcelain-lined.
An apparatus having a capacity of one-half gallon of distilled water per hour, when
burning about six feet of gas, would be of about the following dimensions :-
The retort 5 in. in height and diameter; the outside measurements of the condenser
would be 16 in. long, 3 in. wide, and about in. thick. The interior condensing
tube 2 in. wide x in. x 14 in. The aspirating lips or tube d may be about
in. x 2 in. The overflow pipe should be connected with the condenser jacket
about 7 in. from the bottom, and the pipe should be about in. in diameter. Should
the drip box be dispensed with and the drip pipe for the distillate connected
directly with the bottom of the condensing tube, that pipe should also be about in.
in diameter, so as to permit access of air to the interior of the condensing tube.
The above dimensions were those adopted in several specimen stills which had the
capacity above-mentioned. We do not however limit ourselves to any particular
dimensions.
An apparatus constructed as described may be connected with the water-back or
fire-pot of a range or heater of any kind by pipes S, S', shown in Fig. 3, which
communicate with the retort and the water-back of the heater. With this arrange-
ment water which rises into the retort will flow down the pipe S to the water-back
and fill the water-back and pipes S, S'; and when heated will rise through the pipe S¹
into the retort where it will give off its steam, the operation being precisely the same
as above described. With this arrangement we should prefer to retain the burner E
for use when the range is not burning. Instead of connecting with the ordinary
water-back a continuous pipe, S, S₁, may be passed throngh the fire-pot of the
range.
In Fig. 5 is illustrated one way of construction by means of which the still may be
used for alcoholic distillation, or the manufacture of fluid extracts. At X' just
above the overflow connection with the jacket a partition is placed across the jacket
so as to divide it into two compartments. On each side of the partition there is a pipe
connection with the jacket leading to a common two-way cock which when in one
position places the two compartments of the jacket in communication so that water
may be distilled as above described. In the other position this communication is cut
off and the tap Y' placed in communication with the upper compartment of the
jacket which may now be fed from a tank or supply bottle Z, preferably working
automatically to supply the still at a constant level, as is well understood, with fluid
of any kind to be distilled. Obviously all the advantages incident to the manner of
distilling water above described are here obtained.

page_text: The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5 is as follows:
The bottle Z is located in such relation to the still that the end z of pipe Z' which
passes through the top of the bottle and extends nearly to its bottom is on a level with
the desired fluid-level in the retort, the level being indicated by the horizontal dotted
line W, W. The vessel or bottle Z is provided with an air-valve 7 and with a suitable
outlet pipe Z³ provided with a stop-cock at its bottom. The air-cock Z³ being open
and the outlet-cock at Z closed, a quantity of liquid is supplied to the vessel through
the tube Z, the displaced air escaping through the air-cock. The air-cock is then
closed and the cock at Z open, the pipe Z being connected with the tap Y₁ of the
three-way cock by a suitable piece of tubing, the three-way cock of course being in
the position illustrated in the drawing. The liquid in the vessel Z then commences to
flow out into the still, and a partial vacuum is formed above the liquid in the vessel.
The full pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the liquid in the tube Z' will
cause the water therein to be depressed to some point, say o, and finally to the bottom
of the tube Z', after which air will pass through the tube and ascend through the
liquid into the space above.
It is evident that the force required to carry air through the tube Z' is a pressure
caused by a hydrostatic column equal to the distance from the bottom of the tube Z¹
to the surface of the liquid in Z. Air will continue to pass through the tube until the
level in the still has reached the lower end of the tube, after which the conditions
ahove described do not exist, because the distance from the surface of the liquid in the
still and the surface of the liquid in the vessel Z is less than the hydrostatic column
required to forco air through the tube Z. As soon, however, as the level in the still
falls below the lower end of the tube Z, air will again pass into the vessel Z, and the
liquid flow out to supply the deficiency in the retort of the still.
Of course the still might be fed from a suitable tank of ordinary construction and
the level regulated by an overflow pipe. The overflow would by preference be taken
from the pipe outside of the jacket and preferably between the cock and tank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. The herein described improvement in the art of distillation, which consists in
supplying the fluid to the retort, heating the supply fluid by the vapor of distillation
from the retort, decreasing the pressure upon the surface of the heated supply fluid by
the action of the vapor from the retort, thereby causing it to vaporize at a relatively
low temperature, and then condensing the vapors derived from the fluid.
2. The herein described improvement in the art of distillation, which consists in
causing the vaporous distillate on its escape from the retort to produce a second
distillation at a lower temperature than that in the retort, by heating the supply fluid
prior to its entrance into the retort, and reducing the pressure on the surface of the
same, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the retort, the condenser, normally
open fluid and vapor connections between the condenser and retort, a fluid supply pipe
connected with the condenser, and an overflow pipe or connection, whereby with a
constant fluid feed a uniform level is maintained in the condenser and retort.
4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the retort, the condenser, normally
open fluid and vapor connections between the retort and condenser, a fluid supply pipe
connected with the condenser, and an overflow pipe connected with the condenser below
the retort and carried up to the proper point to maintain the desired level in the retort
and condenser.
5. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the fluid distilling retort, a supply
conduit for conveying the fluid to the retort, and an overflow pipe or connection com-
municating with the supply conduit for the overflow of the fluid, whereby with a
constant fluid feed a uniform level is automatically maintained in the retort, sub-
stantially as set forth.
6. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the retort, the condensing jacket,

page_text: the fluid communication or connection between the retort and jacket, the condensing
tube within the jacket open at its upper end, a vapor chamber or compartment through
which the vapor from the retort blows into the open end of the condensing tube, and
a fluid supply connection with the condenser.
7. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the retort, the condenser jacket,
the interior condenser tube or tubes, the steam or vapor compartment arranged opposite
the open end of the condenser tube and opening into it, the fluid supply and overflow
connections, a fluid connection between the condenser and retort, and a steam con-
nection between the retort and said vapor compartment.
8. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a Liebig condenser, the fluid supply
connection a at one end, the retort arranged opposite the other end of the condenser
and communicating therewith by normally open vapor and fluid connections, and an
overflow pipe, for the purpose described.
9. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a Liebig condenser, the fluid
supply connection a at one end, the retort arranged opposite the other end of the
condenser and communicating therewith by normally open vapor and fluid connections,
an overflow pipe, and a heater or Bunsen-burner support arranged below the retort.
10. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the condenser, the retort having
vapor and fluid connections with the condenser, the overflow pipe, the fluid supply
connection with the condenser, and the retort tap or blow-off pipe, for the purpose
described.
11. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the condenser, the retort, the
vapor and fluid connections between the condenser and retort, the fluid supply and
overflow pipes or connections of the condenser, the blow-off tap of the retort, and the
protecting jacket G.
12. The combination with the condenser, of the drip cup having aerating shelves or
partitions therein, and a drip tube 2, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a distilling retort, a fluid chamber
within which the supply fluid is heated by the steam or vapor leaving the retort, a
condensing tube which passes through said fluid, and an aspirating tube through which
the vapor from the retort is blown into the condensing tube, for the purpose set forth.
14. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the retort, the condenser-jacket,
a fluid connection between the jacket and retort, the condensing tube therein, a vapor
connection between the retort and condensing tube, a partition X¹ in the jacket by
which it is divided into two compartments, pipe-connections by which the upper and
lower compartiments of the condensing jacket may be placed in communication with
or cut off from each other, and fluid supply and discharge pipes or connections for
the lower compartment of the condenser."
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