AN IMPROVED, SPIRIT METER
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents;
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED, SPIRIT METER."-A communication from.
abroad by William Murphy. of Paris, Canada West.
Sealed the 80th November 1866, and dated the 25th June 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th June 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
3 Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED, SPIRIT METER," to be as
follows:-
The object of the apparatus which forms the subject of the present Inven-
tion is to measure and register the quantity of spirit which may flow through
the apparatus (from the discharge pipe of a still or from any other source)
according to the strength and temperature.
The apparatus consists of two principal parts, which, though quite distinct
in their operation, are contained in the same case, and form as combined one
machine..

page_text: The first of these two parts is the weighing apparatus, which receives the
spirit as it flows from the discharge pipe of a still, or elsewhere, and weighs it
according to a certain strength, registers the quantity on a dial or indicator,
which is attached to and is worked by the machinery of this weighing
apparatus.
The second part receives the spirit after it has passed through the weighing
apparatus, and measures and indicates the quantity in gallons on a separate
dial. By this second measurement a check is always kept upon the first
measurement, so that the least variation in either can at once be detected.
As the strength of the spirit which is manufactured in a distillery constantly
varies a sample receiver forms a part of the machine, and is so constructed
as to receive a small quantity of all the spirit which may flow through the
apparatus and give the average strength of the whole. The indicators being
set at zero, and the glass top and doors of the indicators locked up, spirit is
allowed to flow from a still or any other source through the supply pipe into
a receiver, where it is discharged on the surface of a perforated screen, which
-retains any grains or foreign substances which may be brought along with the
spirit into the receiver, and prevents them from being carried into the
apparatus. The spirit having passed through the screen is discharged upon
the breast of a bucket wheel, constructed somewhat similar to a breast
water-wheel; the buckets of the wheel are closed at the end, and the whole is
covered over and enclosed by a case which has an opening on its under side.
The wheel is hung upon a shaft supported at each end by standards. When
the bucket which is opposite the mouth of the funnel is filled with spirit its
weight causes the wheel to revolve and present another bucket opposite the
funnel, while the spirit contained in the full bucket is gradually emptied as it
descends. The wheel continues revolving, receiving and discharging the
spirit as long as the supply is kept up, and through a pinion on its shaft com-
municates motion to the indicator. As the spirit is discharged it flows into
the hydrometer receiver, and is made to flow downwards to near the bottom
of the receiver. By this arrangement the spirit must always act directly upon
the under surface of the hydronometer, and prevents the stronger spirit which
is light from floating on top of weak and heavier spirit. The hydronometer is
made of copper, and is adjusted by a weight, so that it will float to any
desired depth in spirit of any particular strength. This hydronometer has a
rod attached to its upper surface, the upper end of which is connected
by a pin with the end of a lever or scale beam, which is balanced
near its centre upon a pivot working in a fulcrum at the opposite end of the

page_text: scale beam from that, to which the rod of the hydronometer is attached; it is
split or forked,, and in the fork thus formed a friction wheel is hung, so that it
can easily revolve. A portion of the scale beam or lever between the fulcrum.aud
the friction wheel is notched on its upper edge, and in any one of these notches
a weight is suspended by a hook, in the same manner as the balance weight
on the beam of a platform scale.. This weight is adjusted in one of the notches,
on the lever, so as to balance the hydronometer, and keep it immersed to the
same depth in spirit of whatever strength which is, contained in the hydro-.
nometer receiver.. When the spirit which is contained in the receiver is weak,.
and consequently of greater specific gravity than strong spirit, it will have a
tendency to make the hydronometer float more buoyantly, and raise the lever,.
thus causing the friction wheel to be depressed.and made to bear with greater
friction on the large friction wheel, and retard the revolutions of the bucket
wheel. When the spirit is strong, and. of less. specific gravity..the hydro-
nometer will sink to a greater depth in the spirit, and thereby pull down the
lever and release the friction wheels, and allow the bucket wheel to revolve at
the same rate, but with a greater quantity of spirit in each of the buckets.
By this arrangement of the hydronometer and friction wheels the bucket
wheel. will always revolve at the same rate, whether the spirit is weak and
heavy, or strong and light, provided the supply was of the same volume, the
buckets being more or less filled according to the weight of the spirit. The.
weight of spirit at any particular strength which will be contained. in one
revolution of the bucket wheel having been ascertained, the whole quantity
manufactured. can at any time be known by. multiplying the number of
revolutions indicated on the dial by the weight of one revolution. After the
spirit has passed through the weighing apparatus it is conducted into the
second or measuring part, and discharged into the balance funnel, which is
constructed with a concave bottom and close sides and top. It is suspended
and rocks upon a shaft which is supported in suitable bearings. In the
bottom of the funnel and at equal distances on each side of the centre are
two narrow slits or openings which extend across its full width. When the
balance funnel is exactly balanced on the centre the flanges form a basin
which retains the spirit that flows into the funnel during the momentary
pause on the centre. Other flanges prevent any of the spirit. when it is
running through the openings from trickling backwards on the bottom of the
funnel and falling into the wrong compartment. On top of and attached to
the funnel is a guide frame, between the small rods or bars of which a metal
ball traverses from one end to the other of the frame as the funnel is lowered

page_text: or raised. The balance frame is made of brass rods bolted to a solid end,
and is arranged to rock backwards and forwards upon a shaft resting upon
the standards. Between these rods a metal ball larger than the one on the
balance funnel is placed, so that it can run with little friction from end to end
of the frame as it is lowered or raised. Near each end of the frame and on
the side nearest the outside case are two projecting arms, which are attached
to the frame at one end, and the other works in a slot out in the head of the
valve rods. On the side of the frame next to the balance funnel.are two
similar projecting arms, which come in contact with the funnel, and com-
municate motion to it from the rocking frame. A piece of wood framing
across the case supports the funnel and frame, and beneath are two hydro-
nometers, each of them in a separate compartment formed by a division in
the case. Each of the hydronometers has a rod passing through the centre,
and on which they slide up and down; these rods are fastened at the bottom
to the floor of the compartment, and at the upper end to a plate let into and
flush with the upper side of the wood frame. If one of the compartments is
empty the balance funnel and balance frame will be depressed to that side,
and the valve will be closed, and the hydrometer will rest upon the floor of
the compartment. Spirit flowing from the inlet will fall into the bottom of
the funnel, which will cause the spirit to flow to that end and fall through the
opening into this compartment. As soon as the spirit rises to a certain height
it will float the bydrometer, and by it raise the double disc, and also the end
of the balance frame. When the frame is raised to a certain distance the
projecting arm comes in contact with the elevated end of the funnel, and
gradually depresses it as the hydrometer is raised. The opening through
which the spirit is flowing being at the same time raised, the discharge of
spirit is gradually decreased until the last drop required to raise the hydro-
meter has fallen into the compartment, by which time the balance funnel will
be brought to a horizontal position, and the flanges will retain the spirit which
falls into it while it momentarily remains in this position. As soon as the
hydrometer has risen to the height sufficient to lift the frame a little past a
horizontal line the ball immediately runs to the opposite end and causes the
frame to be suddenly depressed, and the balance funnel to dip towards the
other compartment, and spirit begins to flow into that other compartment.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, hearing date the Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at 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 Inven
tion for "AN IMPROVED SPIRIT METER," being a communication to me from
abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The object of the apparatus which forms the subject of the present Inven-
tion is to measure and register the quantity of spirit which may flow through
the apparatus from the discharge pipe of a still, or from any other source,
according to the strength and temperature.
The apparatus consists of two principal parts, which, though quite distinct
in their operation, are contained in the same case, and form as combined one
mashing

page_text: The first of these two parts is the weighing apparatus which receives the
spirit as it flows from the discharge pipe of a still, or elsewhere, and weighs
it according to a certain strength, registers the quantity on a dial or indicator
which is attached to and is worked by the machinery of this weighing
apparatus. This dial is not of any particular form or make, but is arranged
somewhat similar to those in ordinary use for gas meters, any description of
indicator at present in use and which may be suitable may therefore be
used.
The second part receives the spirit after it has passed through the weighing
apparatus, and measures and indicates the quantity in gallons on a separate
dial, which may be of the same kind as above described, only that the motion
will be imparted to it in a different manner which is hereafter described.
By this second measurement a check is always kept upon the first measure-
ment, so that the least variation in either can at once be detected. The
weighing and measuring parts of the machine have several other parts which
are common to both, such as a supply pipe, receiver, sample receiver, funnel,
&c., and are hereafter described at greater length. As the strength of the spirit
which is manufactured in a distillery constantly varies a sample receiver
forms a part of the machine, and is so constructed as to receive a small
quantity of all the spirit which may flow through the apparatus and give the
average strength of the whole. The quantity of spirit which has been
manufactured and allowed to flow into the apparatus can at any time be
ascertained by reading 'the indications on the dial attached to the first part,
which will give the weight, the weight of a gallon of spirit at the strength
which the hydrometer of this portion of the machine has been set having
been ascertained the whole quantity can be obtained by a simple calculation.
The dial of the measuring part will indicate the quantity in gallons, but as
the quantity which it indicates will be of different strengths it is necessary 'to
reduce it to a 'known strength; this will be done by comparing the indications
with the spirit contained in the sample receiver which is an average of all
which has passed through the apparatus. Accompanying this portion of the
apparatus is a table of corrections for the different strengths of spirit, from
water to fifty over proof at different temperatures, these corrections require
to be added to or deducted from the quantity indicated on the dials. A com-
parison of the quantities registered by the weighing and measuring part of
the apparatus will show the least variation of either.
The working parts of the machine are by preference constructed of copper
and brass, but any other suitable metal may be employed, the outer cases may

page_text: be of wood or metal, or as shown on the Drawings with an inner wooden
case and an outer iron case; the top of the inner case is open and the outer
case has a glass top hinged so that it may be opened for the examination of
the apparatus; this cover or glass top is fastened by locks which will prevent it
from being opened without detection. The dials or indicators which are
affixed to the outside of the cases are protected (so that they cannot be
tampered with) by small iron doors fastened with locks, each of these doors
have small openings cut through them opposite the face of the dials so that
the indications may be read without opening the door. The glass top being
shut and locked, and also the doors of the indicators, it will from the construc-
tion of the apparatus be impossible for any person to tamper with or affect
the correct working of the apparatus.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of the apparatus ; Fig. 2
is a longitudinal section taken at the line 1, 2; Fig. 3 is a similar section
taken at the line 3, 4; Fig. 4, transverse section taken at 5, 6; Fig. 5, a
similar section taken at line 7, 8; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the case.
A is the supply pipe; B, the copper receiver; C, the screen; D, the glass
dome; E, the funnel; F, the sample receiver; G, a vertical division or partition
in the case; H, H, are bevilled plates; a, a, cock for emptying the apparatus ;
b, b, is the wooden case; c, c, the iron case, and d, d, the glass top. In the
weighing part of the apparatus I is the bucket wheel, and j is a weight on
the float N; e is the case of wheel I, and f the shaft of the wheel; 9, 9, is a
frame to support e and h; J is a large friction wheel on the shaft f, and K is a
small friction wheel; L is a lever which carries the wheel K, and h is the
fulcrum of the same; i is a weight on the lever L, and N is the float of a
hydrometer on the lower end of the rod k; 1, l, are standards for carrying
the shaft f, and O is a small pinion thereon which gears into a large one on
the shaft m; Q is an indicator, and R an inclined plane; S is the hydrometer
receiver and T a division in the same.
In reference to the measuring apparatus, A¹ is the inlet; B¹, the balance
funnel; C, the metal ball; D', the guide for the same; o is the shaft of B¹ ;
p, p, openings in B¹; q', q, is the flange; r,, the drip flange; s are
standards; u, u³, are guide rods of G₁, G; H¹, H³, discs; I' is the frame;
K', L', are compartments into which the liquid is delivered; M' is a division
in the same; N¹, N³, are sluices therein; 01, 0³, are the valve rods; w³, w³,
arms on the frame E; E is a balance frame, and F is a ball of the same;
t, t, are the standards of the balance frame, and G¹, G³, are hydrometers;
a, a, arms on the frame; E and P¹ is a metal apron; Qis the rod of the

page_text: indicator, and R¹ the indicator. The indicators Q and R¹ being set at zero,
and the glass top d, d, and the doors of the indicators locked up, spirit is
allowed to flow from a still or any other source through the supply pipe A
into the receiver B, where it is discharged on the surface of the screen C,
which is fixed in the receiver B, and is perforated with small holes countersunk
on the under side. The screen C retains any grains or foreign substances
which may be brought along with the spirit into the receiver, and prevents
them from 'being carried into the apparatus. The receiver B is covered by a
glass dome D, through which the surface of the screen and flow of spirit may
at any time be seen. The spirit having passed through the screen C is con-
ducted by the funnel E and discharged upon the breast of the bucket wheel I.
The wheel I is constructed somewhat similar to a breast water wheel.
The buckets of the wheel are closed at the end, and the whole is covered
over and incased by a case e, which has an opening on its under side.
The wheel I is hung upon the shaft f, which is supported at each end by
the standards 1, 1. When the bucket l, l, which is opposite the mouth of
the funnel E, is whole or partially filled with spirit its weight causes
the wheel to revolve and present another bucket opposite the funnel, while
the spirit contained in the full bucket is gradually emptied as it descends
until it comes opposite the opening in the under side of the case e, when
it will have completely discharged or emptied itself upon the surface
of the inclined plane R, the wheel I continues revolving, receiving
and discharging the spirit as long as the supply is kept up. As the
spirit is discharged upon the inclined plane R it flows over the surface into the
hydrometer receiver S, and is made to flow downwards to near the bottom
of the receiver by coming in contact with the inner surface of the division T
(which extends from side to side of the case b, b,) as it flows over the edge of
the inclined plane R. By this arrangement the spirit must always act
directly upon the under surface of the hydrometer N, and prevents the stronger
spirit which is light from floating on top of weak and heavier spirit (which
would fill up the bottom of the receiver S) into the outlet A', and thus prevent
'the proper action of the hydrometer N. The hydrometer N is made of copper,
and is adjusted by the weight; so that it will float to any desired depth in
spirit of any particular strength. This hydrometer has a small rod k attached
to its upper surface, the upper end of which is connected by a small pin with
the end of the lever or scale beam L. The scale beam L is balanced near its
centre upon a pivot working in the fulcrum h at the opposite end of the scale
beam L from that to which the red of the hydrometer is attached; it is split

page_text: or forked, and in the fork thus formed a small friction wheel K is hung so
that it can easily revolve. This small wheel bas a bevilled edge with a
narrow collar on each side, which fits into a groove and plain surface on the
edge of a larger friction wheel J, which is attached to the shaft f of the bucket
wheel I and revolves with it. A portion of the scale beam or lever L between
the fulcrum h and the small friction wheel K is notched on its upper edge,
and in any one of these notches a weight i is suspended by a hook in the
same manner as the balance weight on the beam of a platform scale. This
weight i is so adjusted in one of the notches on the lever L as to balance the
hydrometer N and keep it immersed to the same depth in spirit of whatever
strength which is contained in the hydrometer receiver S. When the spirit
which is contained in the receiver S is weak, and consequently of greater
specific gravity than strong spirit, it will have a tendency to make the hydro-
meter N float more buoyantly, but it is prevented from doing so by the rod K
communicating the upward pressure to the lever L, and thus causing the end of
the lever with the small friction wheel to be depressed and caused to bear with
greater friction on the large friction wheel J and retard the revolutions of the
bucket wheel I. When the spirit is strong, and of less specific gravity than
when it is weak, the hydrometer N will have a tendency to sink to a greater
depth in the spirit, but is prevented from doing so by the weight i acting on
the lever, but it releases part of the friction on the friction wheels and allows
the bucket wheel to revolve at the same rate but with a greater quantity of spirit
in each of the buckets. By this arrangement of the hydrometer and friction
wheels the bucket wheel will always revolve at the same rate, whether the
spirit is weak and heavy, or strong and light, provided the supply was of the
same volume, the buckets being more or less filled according to the weight of
the spirit. Attached to the shaft f of the bucket wheel is a small pinion
(which is not seen in the Drawings); this pinion is geared into a larger
one P, the shaft m of which is supported on a small standard placed on top
of the larger standard and in a small pillow block in the outer iron case..
This shaft m is connected with and works the wheels or machinery of the
dial or indicator Q, and is so arranged that every revolution of the wheel will
be marked by the unit pointer of the dial. The weight of spirit at any par-
ticular strength, which will be contained in one revolution of the bucket wheel,
having been ascertained, the whole quantity manufactured can at any time be
known by multiplying the number of revolutions indicated on the dial by the
weight of one revolution. After the spirit has passed through the before
described weighing apparatus it is conducted from the receiver S into the

page_text: second or measuring part by the inlet pipe A¹ and discharged into the balance
funnel B¹, which is constructed with a concave bottom and close sides and top;
as shewn in Fig. 4; it is suspended and rocks upon the shaft o, which is
supported at one end upon the pillow block or standards and at the other in
a block let into the division G, the centre of the shaft o being below the
inlet A¹. An opening is cut in the side of the funnel B¹ to rock backwards
and forwards without coming in contact with the pipe or inlet A¹. In the
bottom of the funnel B', and at equal distances on each side of the centre, are
two narrow slits or openings p², p³, which extend across the full width of the
funnel. Each of these two openings on the side nearest the centre has two
flanges q', q³, and r³, 1, the former projecting to the inside of the funnel and
the latter to the outside. When the balance funnel is exactly balanced on
the centre the two flanges q¹ and q³ form a basin which retains the spirit that
flows into the funnel during the momentary pause on the centre. The flanges
and prevent any of the spirit when it is running through the openings
p',p³, from trickling backwards on the bottom of the funnel and falling into the
wrong compartment K¹ or L. On top of and attached to the funnel B' is a
guide frame D', between the small rods or bars of which a metal ball C¹
traverses from one end to the other of the frame as the funnel is lowered or
raised. The balance frame E' is made of brass rods bolted to a solid end,
and is arranged to rock backwards and forwards upon a shaft resting upon the
standards t, t. Between these rods a metal ball F¹, larger than the one
on the balance funnel, is placed so that it can run with little friction from end
to end of the frame as it is lowered or raised. Near each end of the frame,
and on the side nearest the outside case b, b, are two projecting arms w¹ and
w, which are attached to the frame E¹ at one end and the other works in a
slot cut in the head of the valve rods 0¹ and 0%. On the side of the frame F,
next to the balance funnel, are two similar projecting arms a¹ and a³, which
come in contact with the funnel B' and communicates motion to it from the
rocking frame E¹. A piece of wood framing I' across the case supports the
funnel and frame, and beneath are two bydrometers G¹ and G³, each of them
in a separate compartment K' and L' formed by the division M in the case.
Each of the hydrometers has a rod w³, w³, passing through the centre, and on
which they slide up and down; these rods are fastened at the bottom to the
floor of the compartment K or L³, and at the upper end to a plate let into
and flush with the upper side of the wood frame I. This plate is perforated
by three or four small holes, in which small brass rods with a disc
on the upper and lower end are allowed to work up and down. The

page_text: lower plate of the double disc H¹ and H* comes in contact with the top of
the hydrometers, and on the upper disc the frame F¹ rests when it is
depressed to either end. If one of the compartments, say L', is empty the
balance funnel B' and balance frame E¹ will be depressed to that side, as
shewn in the Drawing, and the valve v' will be closed and the hydrometer G¹
will rest upon the floor of the compartment L'. Spirit flowing from the
inlet A will fall into the bottom of the funnel B', which from its inclination
towards L will cause the spirit to flow to that end and fall through the
opening p' into L, as shewn by the blue lines in the Drawing, Fig. 4. As soon
as the spirit rises to a certain height in L it will float the hydrometer G³, and
by it raise the double disc H', and also the end of the balance frame E¹.
When the frame E' is raised to a certain distance the projecting arm X*
comes in contact with the elevated end of the funnel B' and gradually
depresses it as the hydrometer G' is raised. The opening p¹ through which
the spirit is flowing being at the same time raised the discharge of spirit into
L' is gradually decreased until the last drop required to raise the hydro-
meter G has fallen into L, by which time the balance funnel will be brought
to a horizontal position and the flanges q' and q³ will retain the spirit which
falls into it while it momentarily remains in this position. As soon as the
hydrometer G¹ has risen to the height sufficient to lift the frame E' a little
past a horizontal line the ball F immediately runs to the opposite end, causing
the frame to be suddenly depressed and the balance funnel to dip towards the
compartment K¹. At the same time the projecting arm w¹ comes in contact
with the upper end of the slot in the valve rod O¹, and by the weight of the ball
Fraises the valve v', and allows the spirit in the compartment L to discharge
through the pipe or sluice N¹. When the funnel is depressed toward K the
spirit will flow into it, and will do so until the hydrometer G³ is raised, when
the same operation as that above described will be repeated, and so on alter-
nately as long as the spirit is allowed to flow into the funnel. The frame of
the funnel B' and the balance frame are so arranged on their shafts that the
balls C and F¹ will never allow them to remain balanced on their centres,
but the balls will always be at one end or the other, and that while the com-
partment into which the spirit is running has the valve closed the valve of the
opposite compartment will be open. The bottom of the compartments K'
and L' are bevilled or made like a hopper so that all the spirit may be
drained off. The valves are not of any particular form or construction, but
are such that they are easily opened and shut and form a perfectly close joint
when shut. By the arrangement of the projecting arms w¹ and w³ the weight

page_text: of the ball F¹ is made to open the valves, so that the weight which the hydro-
meters G¹ and G' have to raise is always the same, and will consequently
require exactly the same amount of spirit if the strength is the same to raise
them and the end of the balance frame. The metal apron P¹ prevents the
agitation of the spirit falling from the funnel from affecting the hydrometers.
Attached to the balance frame E¹ is a projecting arm Q, which is fixed to it
a little above the centre, so that the rocking of the frame causes it to describe
a short arc of a circle. This arm projects through the cases and into the
machinery of the indicator R¹, which it works, and indicates on the dial every
discharge of the compartments K and L. The number of gallons of spirit at
any strength which it requires to raise the hydrometers G¹ or G³ being known
the whole quantity which passes through can be ascertained by multiplying
this number by the number of discharges, as the spirit will constantly vary
and be of unknown strengths, the average strength will be obtained by
testing the strength of the spirit contained in the sample receiver, which, as
before mentioned, is the exact average of the whole quantity, and is obtained
as follows:-Two small brass plates, each having one edge bevilled, are sunk
flush with the surface of the inclined plane R immediately beneath the
discharge from the bucket wheel with the two bevilled edges brought almost
close together, leaving a very fine aperture, through which there is a constant
trickling and dropping of a small quantity of all the spirit which is discharged
from the bucket wheel into the sample receiver as the spirit is thoroughly mixed
together by its passage through the screen and bucket wheel before it is dis-
charged on the surface of these plates; the average sample retained is a
correct average of all the spirit which passes through the apparatus. a is a
cock on the sample receiver through which the spirit can be drawn off for
testing; as this is locked and secured with the Government seal it is
impossible to tamper with the spirit in the receiver.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated to me
as aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as
aforesaid,―
First, the bevilled plates H in the inclined plane R in combination with
the bucket wheel I and sample receiver F, constructed and operating as and
for the purpose described.
Second, the method herein described of checking the motion of the bucket
wheel I according to the specific gravity of the spirits consisting of the hydro-
meter N, balance weight i, lever L, and pulleys K, J, or other equivalent means
which will produce the same effect.

page_text: Third, the balance funnel B' and titling frame D' in combination with the
balance frame E' and hydrometer G, G³, constructed and operating as and
for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.B.)