Patent GB-191125513-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing Sewage or like Effluents onto Filter Beds and the like.
Inventor: COOMBS JAMES ALGER
IPC: C02F3/04
Filed: 1911-11-16
Granted: 1912-10-31
Abstract: 25,513. Coombs, J. A., and Seaborne, S. Nov. 16. Travelling - carriage apparatus. - In apparatus for distributing sewage or other effluent over filter beds in which the flow of sewage is used to propel the apparatus, the motor used acts on the same principle as an hydraulic ram. In the form shown, the spray-pipe is reciprocated over t h e filter bed; but the apparatus may be applied to a rotary sprayer. The liquid to be distributed is led from a trough a at the side of the filter through a siphon c to the motor d which is shown in detail in Fig. 3. The chamber e is provided with a counterbalanced valve j and contains two rams or plungers e<1>, each of which carries a rack e<2> engaging free - wheel pinions clutched in turn to the shaft g. On entering the chamber e, the emuent passes into the distributing - pipe b until it attains sufficient velocity to close the valve against the action of the weight j<1>, whereupon the momentum of the liquid acting against one of the rams e' causes it to rise and rotate the corresponding pinion, thus rotating the shaft g and moving the apparatus along the rails. As soon as the momentum falls by a certain amount, the valve opens and the cycle is repeated. On reaching the end of its travel, the direction of movement is reversed by the following means: a clutch i, which slides along the shaft, engages in turn with the free wheels f, this clutch is moved by means of levers i<2>, i<3>, which are actuated by means of tipping tanks l, arranged on either side of the pipe b, which are filled in turn from water-supply taps at each end of the filter, the water draining away by leak taps in the tanks. One of the rams e<1> is always held out of action by a locking-plate r which is worked by a pin i<4> which comes between the two inclined parts r<1> of the plate. When the clutch i is moved, the pin i<4>, acting on the incline, shifts the plate at right-angles to its movement and moves a half-ring r<2> out of engagement with one rack and another half-ring into engagement with the other. In the form shown in Fig. 7, the liquid is delivered over the filter by means of flat nozzles o mounted in swivel bearings so arranged that the jets are directed in opposite direction to the movement of the travelling pipe. The nozzles are held in position by bars p attached to a horizontal bar p'. On reaching the end of the travel of the distributor, the bar p<1> is moved horizontally by means of the tipping tanks l, thus releasing the nozzles and allowing them to rotate under the reaction of the escaping liquid until they engage another series of rods p when they are held in position. In some cases, instead of using two hydraulic rams, one only is used, in which the reversal of the propelling - gear is obtained by means of a double ratchet mechanism. In place of the nozzles described, the spraying-device shown in Fig. 7 may be used, in which nozzles o arranged in pairs on the upper side of the tube b are each provided with a device t which acts both as a stopper and as an atomizer, one set of nozzles being used when the apparatus moves in one direction and vice versa, the holes being opened and closed by means of rocking levers actuated by the rod u<1>.