An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Purifying and Refining Alcoholic Liquors:
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 189 -Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES BULLOCK, of No. 22 10 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge, and CLARENCE MEREDITH REED, of No. 135 Pearl
Street, Boston, both in the State of Massachusetts, United States of
America.]
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Purifying and Refining
Alcoholic Liquors:
I, DAVID YOUNG, Patent Agent, of the Firm of D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., 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 :-
This invention relates to a novel method of and apparatus for purifying and
refining alcoholic liquors.
Prior to our present invention, we are aware that spirituous liquors have been
subjected in large quantity or bulk to the oxidizing effect of heated air, to destroy
the deleterious and poisonous alcohols, such as the propylic, butylic, amylic (fusel
oil) and the aldehydes present in crude or new liquors. In the process referred to,
the heated air is dry, and a considerable pressure is required to force the hot, dry
air through the volume or body of liquor, and as a result, a very considerable
quantity of the ethyl-alcohol is carried from the process tank or oxidizing chamber
into the condenser, from which a portion of the ethyl-alcohol is carried by the air
into a water vat, where the alcohol is collected. The alcohol carried by the
air into the water vat, is practically lost from the liquor under treatment and, as
a result, the strength or proof of the liquor after treatment is less than before
treatment, that is, the treated liquor has lost some of its proof which requires the
addition of alcohol to the treated liquor to restore its proof. In accordance with
our invention, we obviate the loss of proof referred to, by treating the liquor in
small quantity and while in motion or in transit, to the oxidizing effect of heated
air preferably moistened, as will be described, the air being brought, under
substantially little pressure, in contact with the liquor in small quantity. The
pressure, at which the air is brought in contact with the liquor in small quantity,
is, preferably, only sufficient to create a gentle circulation of the air, and con-
sequently, only a substantially small quantity of alcoholic vapor is carried by the
air into the condenser, wherein it is all condensed and returns to the process tank
or oxidizing chamber. The air is permitted to escape from the condenser, after it
has accumulated therein sufficiently to create a pressure requisite to open an escape
or safety-valve. In this manner, the liquor after treatment, retains all its proof.
The heated air is preferably moistened before being admitted to the oxidizing
chamber, to improve the flavor of the treated liquor.
The particular features in which our invention consists will be pointed out in the
claims at the end of this Specification.
The drawing is an elevation, partially broken out, of the form of apparatus
preferred by us with which to practise our invention.
A represents the process tauk or oxidizing chamber, in which the liquor, such
as whisky, brandy, etc., is treated, the said liquor being supplied from a receptacle
or tank a located above the oxidizing chamber A and connected therewith by a
pipe a 1, hereinshown as provided with a cork or valve a 2, the receptacle a, as
hereinshown, being adapted to receive the liquor from the supply tank a 3 provided
with an outlet pipe a 4 provided with a stop cock or valve a 5. The liquor to be

page_text: treated is admitted into the oxidizing chamber A in small quantity by opening the
valve a 2, and preferably the said liquor will be discharged upon a distributor b,
which may be of any usual or desired construction, it being hereinrepresented, as a
series of vanes or arms on a spindle 10 adapted to be revolved by the liquor in its
descent into the oxidizing chamber A. The liquor admitted into the chamber A
is finely divided or spread out by the distributor band falls or descends in fine
streams or in small quantity in the form of a shower or spray, and while in motion
or in transit, that is, in its descent to the bottom of the chamber A, is subjected to
the oxidizing action of heated air, preferably moistened, as will be described.
The air is supplied by means of an air pump 62, which may be of any usual or
well-known construction, having its outlet pipe 63 connected, preferably to the
upper end of a purifier 64, which may be of any desired construction and
preferably what is known as the Tyndall Air Purifier, the latter being connected
at its bottom by the pipe 65 to a heater 66 containing within it a column of
water 67. The water 67 may be heated, preferably to above its boiling point, by
means of a suitable steam pipe or coil 68 located within the heater and connected
to a suitable steam supply, or the heater may be otherwise heated. The heater b 6
is provided at its upper end with an air outlet pipe 6 9, which is extended into the
oxidizing chamber A, and as hereinshown, the pipe 69 is extended into the
chamber A at its top or upper end, and passes down to near the bottom of
the chamber where it is provided with perforations or air outlets, so that the air
issuing from the said perforations will ascend in the direction opposite to that in
which the current of liquor flows.
The oxidizing chamber A is connected by a vapor outlet pipe c to a trap or
vessel c 1, which is connected by a pipe c 2 with a condenser preferably of a con-
struction substantially as hereinshown, it consisting of a hollow receptacle or
chamber c 3 with which the pipe c 2 is connected at its bottom or lower end, the
said chamber being suitably supported within a vessel or chamber c4 containing a
condensing medium, preferably a brine liquor. The chamber or vessel c3 is
adapted to communicate with the atmosphere, and is provided with a suitable
outlet 15 normally closed by a suitable safety valve, having its stem c 5 pivotally
connected to a lever c 6, fulcrumed as at c7 to a standard or upright c 8, supported
as shown on the chamber c 3, the said lever being shown as provided with the
weight c 10. The receptacle c3 is located within the vessel or chamber c4, which
may, and preferably will, be open at its top, the said chamber or vessel containing
a condensing medium preferably a brine liquor. The brine liquor is agitated for
the best results, which is effected as hereinshown, by forcing air through the liquor,
the said air being preferably forced into the chamber or vessel by the same pump
employed to force the air into the oxidizing chamber, the outlet pipe 63 for the
pump 2 having a branch pipe c 13 extended into the vessel or chamber c4, and
preferably provided with two or more perforations or air outlets c 14, the said
branch pipe having a cock or valve c 15, by which the quantity of air admitted
into the chamber c4 may be controlled.
The trap or vessel cl is provided with a liquor outlet pipe c20 leading to the
chamber A, the said pipe being shown as provided with a hand operated valve c 21,
but, if desired, it may be provided with an automatic valve operated by the weight
of the liquor in the pipe and trap el. The pipes c c 2 may also be provided with
cocks or valves c 23 c 24.
The air inlet pipe 69 for the oxidizing chamber A, may, and preferably will, be
provided with a branch pipe d, connected to a sleeve d1, which surrounds the
lower end of the pipe a 1, and the air admitted to said sleeve passes into the
chamber A, and assists in breaking up or disturbing the liquor into a spray or
small quantity.
In operation, the liquor admitted to the chamber A. by opening the cock or
valve a 2 is broken up or sprayed by the distributer and descends through the
chamber A in small quantity that is, in a finely divided spray or shower, and
accumulates in the bottom or lower end of the said chamber.

page_text: The liquor in small quantity is subjected to the oxidizing action of purified
heated air, which is supplied by the pump 62, the air preferably carrying into the
oxidizing chamber A, a small quantity of vapor of water taken up by the air as it
passes through the column 67 of heated water. The air in the chamber A
oxidizes the deleterious alcohols, principally the amyl-alcohol or fusel oil, and also
passes from the chamber A up through the pipe c into the trap c1, where
opportunity is afforded for the collection of vapors of condensation, and from the
trap c1, the air passes through the pipe c2 into the condensing chamber c3,
wherein any alcoholic vapor carried off by the air and not deposited in the trap c 1,
is condensed and returns through the pipe c 2 into the trap c 1, from which it flows
through the pipe c20 to the chamber A, the valve c21 in the pipe c20 being at
such time open. The air freed from its alcoholic vapors accumulates in the
condenser c 3 until sufficient pressure is created to open the safety valve.
Instead of the hand operated valve e 21, we may provide the pipe c20 with an
automatic valve which is normally closed but which will open when a column of
liquor of condensation of sufficient height has accumulated to open the said
automatic valve.
¢¢
The liquor collected in the chamber A, is preferably pumped back into the
supply vessel a, by means of the pump d³, having its inlet port connected by a
pipe d to the chamber A and its outlet port connected by a pipe d 10 to the
vessel a. In this manner, the liquor in small quantity may be circulated through the
oxidizing chamber, either continuously or intermittently, and as a result, may be
more energetically acted upon by the air, thereby materially reducing the length
of time required to oxidize or age" the liquor, which when sufficiently "edged"
may be drawn off through the pipe d 15 without interrupting the process, the
discharge pipe d 15 being provided with a cock or valve d 16. Owing to the fact,
that the liquor is heated in small quantity or film rather than in bulk, the air
admitted need be under but little pressure, thereby obviating loss by non-
condensation, and thus maintaining all the proof or strength of the liquor.
Furthermore, the length of time required to age the liquor is shortened, and by
means of moistening the heated air as described, the flavor is improved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what 1 claim is :-
1. That improvement in the art of treating alcoholic liquors, which consists in
passing air through a heated column of water and subjecting the liquor while
passing in small quantity through a chamber or vessel, to the oxidizing effect of the
air thus heated and moistened, substantially as described.
2. That improvement in the art of treating alcoholic liquors, which consists in
subjecting the liquor in small quantity in transit through a chamber or vessel to
the oxidizing effect of moistened heated air and circulating the said liquor through
the said chamber, substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus for treating alcoholic liquors, the combination, with an
oxidizing chamber, a liquor supply connected to the said chamber, and a pump to
supply air to the said chamber, of a water heater containing a column of heated
water through which heated water the air is passed on its way to the said chamber,
the said air being heated and moistened by its passage through the column of
heated water, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In an apparatus for treating alcoholic liquors, the combination, with an
oxidizing chamber, and a liquor supply connected to the said chamber, of a water
heater containing a column of heated water, through which heated water the air is
passed on its way to the said chamber, a main outlet pipe for said oxidizing
chamber, a liquor trap to which said air outlet pipe is connected, a condenser
connected to the said trap, and a return pipe for the trapped liquor connecting the
said trap with the oxidizing chamber.
5. In an apparatus for treating alcoholic liquors, the combination, with an

page_text: oxidizing chamber provided with a liquor inlet pipe and with a distributor for the
Jiquor admitted therethrough, of a water-heater connected to the said chamber, an
air-pump connected to said water-heater to force air through said heater into the
oxidizing chamber, a supply tank for said oxidizing chamber, a circulating pump
-connected to said oxidizing chamber and to the said supply tank, a condenser
communicating with the oxidizing chamber, and a trap intermediate of the
-condenser and the oxidizing chamber and connected therewith, for the purpose
-specified.
Dated the 19th day of December 1895.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.