Patent GB-190324229-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Cleaning Filter Beds
Inventor: BLAISDELL HIRAM WHEELER
Filed: 1903-11-07
Granted: 1904-11-07
Abstract: 24,229. Blaisdell, H. W. Nov. 7. Filter beds, cleansing. - The materials constituting filter beds are taken up, cleansed, and replaced, or removed by means of a travelling structure provided with motors, elevators, washing- drums, conveyers, pumps, &c. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the apparatus, and Fig. 6 a detail view of the belt-shifting mechanism. The supporting-wheels 4, which run on rails 3<a>, are driven from the motor by means of bevel and worm gearing, of which alternative portions are put into or out of the series by means of a clutch, so that the apparatus can be moved rapidly when being brought into position, and slowly when at work. The elevator is raised or lowered by means of the motor 78, which drives the shaft 74 carrying bevel-pinions, engaging bevel-wheels 72 on shafts 71 connected by toothed gearing to the threaded rods, which engage the beam supporting the elevators. A shield prevents the cleansed material discharged upon the filter bed from again reaching the elevators. The material raised from the filter bed is emptied through the shoots 56 into the drums 48, mounted on shafts 45 by means of spokes or spiders 47 secured to hubs 46. The ribs or vanes 50 cause the material to move towards the discharge end, as the drum is rotated, meeting a current of water supplied through the pipe 63. The drum 48 carries a toothed ring 51 driven by a pinion on the shaft 53, which is actuated by means of bevel gearing from one of the motors. The cleansed material is discharged from the drum through the hopper 57 upon the inclined conveyer 14, which carries it to a pair of deflecting-plates or discs, which distribute it upon the filter bed. The main frame of the apparatus is extended at one side to support tracks or ways 8 for the travelling- wheels 9 of a tripper 10, provided with a discharging-spout 11, for use when it is desired to discharge the filtering-material outside the filter. An endless belt 12, to receive the material from the belt 14 when its normal direction of motion is reversed, and hinged protecting hoods 22, are used in connection with the tripper 10, which is moved into any desired position along the tracks 8. The elevators are carried laterally to and fro along the rail 81 by wheels 82 by means of a driven pinion, on the shaft 110, which engages a rack carried by the elevator frame. The direction of rotation of the pinion is automatically reversed by means of fast and loose pulleys and open and crossed belts, which are shifted automatically by means of the weighted lever 123, Fig. 6, having an arm 124a adapted to engage with stop pins 125 on each end of the frame and force the roller 119 on one of the interpivoted levers 117, 118 into the eccentric portion of the channel 120, thereby throwing the free end of the lever sideways and moving the beltshifting rod 116, the other lever, 117 or 118, remaining unaffected with its roller 119 in the concentric part of the quadrant, until the arm 124<a> comes into contact with the pin 125 at the other end of the frame, when the opposite action takes place.