IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Jolinston, of San Francisco, California,
United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE DISTILLATION OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREFOR."
Sealed the 13th July 1869, and dated the 20th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Johnston at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th May 1869.
I, GEORGE JOHNSTON, of San Francisco, California, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Ix-
PROVEMENTS. IN THE DISTILLATION OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, AND IN APPARATUS
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists chiefly in an improved con-
struction of stills, designed more especially for the production of
spirituous liquors, as brandy and whiskey, and it relates to an arrange-
ment of the furnace with two discharge flues, one of which connects
with the space beneath the alembic or retort, and the other with the
chimney, so that by means of a slide or damper the current of heat may
be directed into either passage at pleasure, and thus obviate the necessity

page_text: The retort has a series of horizontal diaphragms or partitions com-
mencing near the bottom and reaching to the top, which separate it into
chambers, the lower ones being connected by means of hollow return
columns, the next ones having distributions so contrived as to thoroughly
pass the hot vapors through the liquid contained within the chambers,
while the upper chamber of all contains a number of coils of pipe or
other device through which the vapors pass, and thus heat a charge of
alcoholic liquid contained within this chamber. Suitable valves are
arranged to discharge the contents of this upper chamber into one of
the lower ones, and from that to the next, and, lastly, to the lowest or
heating chamber. Within this upper chamber is a short bent pipe, one
end of which opens into the discharge pipe and the other into the
chamber, and it has a self-acting valve, which relieves the chamber of
any pressure due to overheating, and thus converts the heating chamber
into a chamber of the still. The vapors are carried from this first
vessel or retort to the lowest chamber of the second vessel, and rise
successively through all the chambers through distributions similar to
those within the first vessel, the heat of each being regulated by means
of a water pipe passing through each of the chambers successively in
coils, and thence discharging, the flow being regulated by a cock.
Another water pipe enters the lowermost chamber, and is coiled a
sufficient number of times to give the contained water the requisite
heat, when it passes out and discharges its contents into the upper
chamber successively, so that the spirit may be cleansed from its fusil
oil and other impurities at one distillation, in place of the two or more
heretofore used, and in which the water must be added in the retort at
the subsequent distillation. From the second vessel the spirit passes to
the refrigerating apparatus in the worm tub as usual. The retort is sct
in brick work, and has a fire space beneath it. The furnace may be of
any desirable form and construction, and it has two flues or passages,
onc connecting with the chamber and thence to the chimney, while the
flue opens directly into the chimney. These two flues are opened or
closed by a valve or damper so made that when one is opened the other
may be closed. The retort or first vessel contains a number of chambers,
the lower one of which holds the charge, and is subjected to the heat of
the fire or steam. This chamber may be discharged at any time by a

page_text: pipe. Above this chamber are two other chambers. A large hollow
column or pipe opening into the lower chamber at the bottom extends
to near the top of the next chamber. Over this column is placed an
inverted bell-mouthed pipe closed at the top, and extending to near the
bottom of the chamber. As the vapors ascend from the lower chamber
they rise to the top of the said column, then are returned downward
outside of it and between it and the case, and are finally discharged from
its mouth, and rise through the alcoholic liquid with which the second
chamber is filled to near the level of the top of the column. From this
chamber the vapor passes by a similar device to the third chamber, this
chamber being also filled like the other with alcoholic liquid. Above
the third chamber are two shallow chambers, the lower one of which
contains a distributor, consisting of four hollow radial arms pierced with
small holes on their lower sides. These arms meet at the centre, and
are connected with the chamber by a short pipe or passage. An open
pipe passes through the bottom of this lower shallow chamber, and rises
so high that the arms will remain constantly covered, but any liquid
more than sufficicnt for that purpose will flow down the open pipe, which
extends to near the bottom of the third chanıber, and has a short tube
encircling it and rising around it to such a height as to form a trap, so
that all vapors must pass through the distributor to reach the lower
shallow chamber. The upper shallow chamber is connected with the
lower one by a distributor, and has also a similar trap formed of pipes..
From the upper shallow chamber the vapors pass into the open pipe,
which is situated within the upper chamber, and is coiled within it, to
serve as a heater for the charge of alcoholic liquid which is introduced
to this chamber through a pipe. A short bent pipe is placed with one
end opening into the coiled pipe and the other into the upper part of the
upper chamber. A valve is placed in this pipe, so that if the temperature
of the charge in the said chamber be unduly elevated any pressure there-
from will raise the valve, and allow the vapor to enter the coiled pipe,
thus making the heating chamber a chamber of the still. The upper
chamber has a pipe passing from its bottom through the two shallow
chambers, and communicating with the third chamber, a valve which is
operated from the outside controlling the passage. The second and third
chambers have each a similar valve, so that when the charge in the
lower chamber has been worked off and discharged, the valve between
the lower and second chamber is opened, and the charge in the second
chamber passes into the bottom chamber. The charge in the third

page_text: chamber enters the second chamber through the valve between them,
and the charge from the top chamber passes through the other valve and
the pipe connected therewith to fill the second chamber, after which a
new charge is let into the said top chamber through the feed pipe. The
vapor after passing through these different chambers and pipes is carried
by the coiled pipe out of the first vessel, and then down till it enters tho
lower chamber of the second vessel, where the pipe opens with a bell-
mouth close to the bottom. The lower chamber of this vessel is con-
nected with the lower chamber of the first vessel by means of a pipe
and stop-cock, so that all its condensed vapors and other contents can
be returned thereto. The second vessel is divided by diaphragms liko
the first vessel into a number of other chambers, each of which connects
with the one below by means of distributors similar to those here-
before described, and each chamber has a trap or pipes like those
described as connecting the shallow chambers and the third chamber in
the first vessel. The vapors are kept at a temperature which gradually
decreases in each of the chambers from the bottom upward by means of
a water pipe which enters the upper chamber, and is coiled, then passes
out and into the chamber below, within which it is coiled in a like
manner, and thus through the whole, finally discharging after leaving
the lowest chamber, the water being elevated in temperature in each
of the chambers as it descends, so that the heavier impurities are con-
densed in the chamber, and the lighter ones in their order ascending till
the vapor thoroughly washed and purified passes from the upper chamber
at any desired temperature to the worm tub or refrigerator through a
suitable pipe. The water for purifying purposes is carried by a pipe to
the lower chamber (of the second vessel,) within which the pipe is coiled
a sufficient number of times to allow the water to be raised to the
desired temperaturo, after which the pipe passes out and rises to the
upper chamber, the supply pipe having a cock by which the amount
introduced may be regulated. The water will fill the said upper
chamber to the level of the top of a pipe, and the surplus will
pass through this pipe to the chamber beneath; another pipe supplics
the next chambor in the same manner, and so on to the lowest
chamber. The water may be regulated in quantity, and may be allowed
to run continuously when the still is worked continuously, but when
the still is working separate charges an amount of water sufficient to
cleanse the spirituous vapors is introduced at each charge. Water will
cleanse the spirit of most of its fusil oil and other impurities when used

page_text: in sufficient quantity, and such is the practice in all re-distillation,
the impure spirit being mixed with water and returned to the still.
With some stills the spirit is partially purified by decreasing its specific
gravity on its passage from the alembic to the worm, thereby freeing it
from some of its fusil oil. My Invention not only reduces its specific
gravity at one operation, but also passes it through a sufficient quantity
of water to absorbe its impurities without any further heating. The
second column or vessel of the still is charged with the amount
of water necessary to cleanse the vapors, and it is kept at such a
temperature that the heavier impurities are all condensed or united
with the water in the lowest chamber, and from that to the upper one,
within which the temperature is so regulated that the spirituous vapors
may be passed to the refrigerator at any proof desired, and cleansed of
nearly all impurities, this being effected at one operation, as before
described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Johnston in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 20th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
JOHNSTON, of San Francisco, California, United States of America,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Johnston, Her special licence
that I, the said George Johnston, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Johnston, 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE DISTILLATION OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Johnston, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 George Johnston, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The nature of my Invention consists of an improved construction for
stills designed more especially for the production of spirituous liquors,
as brandy and whiskey, and it relates to an arrangement of the furnace
with two discharge flues, one of which connects with the space beneath
the alembic or retort and the other with the chimney, so that by means
of a slide or damper the current of heat may he directed into either
passage at pleasure, and thus obviate the necessity for withdrawing the
fires during the process of charging and discharging the still.
The retort has a series of horizontal diaphragms or partitions com-
mencing near the bottom and reaching to the top, which separate it
into chambers, the lower ones being connected by means of hollow
return columns, the next ones having distributors so contrived as to
thoroughly pass the hot vapors through the liquid contained within the
chambers, while the upper chamber of all contains a number of coils
of pipe or other device through which the vapors pass, and thus heat
a charge of alcoholic liquid contained within this chamber. Suitable
valves are arranged to discharge the contents of this upper chamber
into one of the lower ones, and from that to the next, and lastly to
the lowest or heating chamber. Within this upper chamber is a short
bent pipe, one end of which opens into the discharge pipe and the
other into the chamber, and it has a self-acting valve which relieves
the chamber of any pressure due to over heating, and thus converts
the heating chamber into a chamber of the still. The vapors are
carried from this first vessel or retort to the lowest chamber of the
vessel B, and risc successively through all the chambers through
distributors similar to those within the first vessel, the heat of each 3
being regulated by means of a water pipe passing through each
of the chambers successively in coils, thence discharging, the flow
being regulated by a cock. Another water pipe enters the lowermost

page_text: chamber, and is coiled a sufficient number of times to give the contained
water the requisite heat, when it passes out and discharges its contents
into the upper chamber of the vessel B, from whence they are conveyed
by a series of traps or valves to the lower chambers successively, so
that the spirit may be cleansed from its fusil oil and other impurities
at one distillation in place of the two or more heretofore used, and in
which the water must be added in the retort at the subsequent
distillation. From the vessel B the spirit passes to the refrigerating
apparatus in thic worm tub as usual.
To more fully illustrate and explain my Invention reference is made
to the accompanying Drawing and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved apparatus; Figures 2
and 3 are detached portions thercof.
A is the retort, and B the second chamber of the still. The retort
is set in brickwork, as shown, and has a fire-space C beneath it. The
furnace D may be of any desirable form and construction, and it has
two flues or passages, the one E connecting with the chamber C and
thence to the chimney, while the flue l' opens directly into the chimney,
these two flues are opened or closed by a valve or damper G so made
that when one is opened the other may be closed. By this arrange-
ment the heat of the fire may be made to pass beneath the retort or
it may be entirely shut off and pass directly to the chimney while
charging and discharging, and the necessity for withdrawing the fire
is obviated. The retort or vessel A. contains a number of chambers,
the lower one H of which holds the charge and is subjected to the heat
of the fire or steam. This chamber may be discharged at any time
by the pipe I. Above this chamber are two other chambers J and J'.
A large hollow column or pipe K opening into the chamber H at
the bottom extends to near the top of the chamber J. Over this
column is placed an inverted bell-mouthed pipe K', closed at the top
and extending to near the bottom of the chamber J, and being large
enough so that as the vapors ascend from the chamber H they risc
to the top of the column K, then are returned downward outside of
it and between it and the case K', and are finally discharged from its
mouth and rise through the alcoholic liquid with which the chamber J
is filled to near the level of the top of the column K. From this
chamber the vapor passes by a similar device to the chamber J', as
shown, this chamber being also filled like the other with alcoholic

page_text: liquid. Above the chamber are two shallow chambers L and L.
The chamber L contains a distributor consisting of four hollow radial
arms M, M, pierced with small holes on their lower sides. These arms
meet at the center and are connected with the chamber J' by a short
pipe or passage N. An open pipe O passes through the bottom of
the chamber L and rises just high enough so that the arms M will
remain constantly covered, but any liquid more than sufficient for that
purpose will flow down the pipe O, which extends to near the bottom
of the chamber J' and has a short tube P encircling it and rising
around it to such a height as to form a trap, so that all vapors must
pass through the distributor to reach the chamber L. The chamber 1
is connected with L by a distributor M', and has also a similar trap
formed of the pipes O' and P¹, as shown. From the chamber L' the
vapors pass into the pipe Q, which is situated within the upper
chamber R and is coiled within it a number of times so as to serve
as a heater for the charge of alcoholic liquid which is introduced to this
chamber through the pipe S. Any other form of heater, as a cylinder,
may be used if found desirable. A short bent pipe T is placed with
one end opening into the coiled pipe Q and the other into the upper
part of the chamber R. A valve V is placed in this pipe, so that if
the temperature of the charge in the chamber R be unduly elevated
any pressure therefrom will raise the valve and allow the vapor to
enter the pipe Q, thus making the heating chamber a chamber of the
still. The chamber R has a pipe W passing from its bottom through
the two chambers Land L' and communicating with the chamber J',
a valve X which is operated from the outside controlling the passage.
The chambers J' and J have each a similar valve X' and X, so that
when the charge in the chamber I has been worked off and discharged
the valve X is opened and the charge in J passes into H. The charge
in J'enters the chamber J through the valve X', and the charge from R
passes through the valve X and pipe W to fill the chamber J, after which
a new charge is let into R through the pipe S. The vapor after
passing through these different chambers and pipes is carried by the
pipe Qout of the vessel A and then down till it enters the lower
chamber of the vessel B, where the pipe opens with a bell mouth
close to the bottom. The chamber a is connected with the chamber I
in the vessel A by means of a pipe and stop-cock, so that all the
condensed vapors and other contents of " can be returned to H again.
The vessel B is divided by diaphragms like the vessel A into a number

page_text: of other chambers c, d, e, cach of which connects with the one below
by means of distributors g, g', similar to that described in the chamber L
in the vessel A, and each chamber has a trap or pipes h, h', like those
described as connecting the chamber L', L, and J' in the vessel A.
The vapors are kept at a temperature which gradually decreases in
cach of the chambers from the bottom up by means of a water pipe i.
which enters the upper chamber and is coiled, as shown at Figure 2,
then passes out and into the chamber below, within which it is coiled
in a like manner and thus through the whole, finally discharging after
leaving the lowest chamber a, the water being elevated in temperature
in each of the chambers as it descends, so that the heavier impuritics
are condensed in the chamber a and the lighter ones in their order
ascending till the vapor thoroughly washed and purified passes from
the upper chamber at any desired temperature to the worm tub or
refrigerator through the pipe k. The water for purifying purposes is
carried by a pipe m to the chamber a, within which the pipe is coiled
a sufficient number of times to allow the water to be raised to the
desired temperature, after which the pipe passes out of a and rises to
the upper chamber e, where it discharges into the chamber, the supply
pipe having a cock by which the amount introduced may be regulated.
The water will fill the chamber e to the level of the top of the pipe /³,
and the surplus will pass through this pipe to the chamber d beneath.
The pipe h' supplies the chamber c in the same manner, and so on to
the lowest chamber. The water may be regulated in quantity and
may be allowed to run continuously when the still is worked con-
tinuously, but when the still is working separate charges an amount
of water sufficient to cleanse the spirituous vapors is introduced at each
charge. Water will cleanse the spirit of most of its fusil oil and other
impuritics when used in sufficient quantity, and such is the practice
in all re-distillation, the impure spirit being mixed with water and
returned to the still. With stills such as Coffey's, the spirit is partially
purified by decreasing its specific gravity on its passage from the alembic
to the worm, thereby freeing it from some of its fusil oil. My Invention
not only reduces its specific gravity at one operation, but also passes
it through a sufficient quantity of water to absorb its impurities without
any further heating. In my device the second column or chamber B
of the still is charged with the amount of water necessary to cleanse
the vapors, and it is kept at such a temperature that the heavier
impurities are all condensed or united with the water in the lowest

page_text: chamber and from that to the upper one e, within which the temperature
is so regulated that the spirituous vapors may be passed to the
refrigerator at any proof desired and cleansed of nearly all impurities,
this being effected at one operation, as before described.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim as new and desire
to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The furnace D with the two flues E and F and the adjustable
slide or damper G for transferring, regulating, and stopping the heat,
substantially as herein described.
Second. The curved pipe T and the valve V or an equivalent device
for connecting the heating chambers of the still, substantially as
described.
Third. I claim introducing a quantity of water into the chambers
of the vessel B suflicient to free the alcoholic vapours of their fusil
oil and other impuritics on their passage from the alembic to the 1
refrigerator when worked continuously or in separate charges us, herein
described.
Fourth. I claim the device consisting of the heating vessel A fogether
with the vessel B with its chambers and passages intervening between
the vessel A and the refrigerating apparatus when constructed and 2
operating substantially as herein described.
Fifth. I claim regulating the temperature of the chambers of the
vessel B by means of water passing through the pipe i or an equivalent
device, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Johnston, have hereunto 2
set my hand and scal, this Sixteenth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
ninc.
Witnesses,
JOHN L. BOONE,
GEO. II. STRONG.
GEORGE JOHNSTON.
(L.S.)
3