Patent GB-190209179-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or in connection with Apparatus for the Distribution of Liquids upon Filter Beds
Inventor: GANDY FRANK PULLEN
Filed: 1902-04-21
Granted: 1903-04-09
Abstract: 9179. Candy, F. P. April 21. Sewage and foul waters, treating; filtering.-Relates to apparatus for distributing liquids, for example, sewage and other foul liquids, upon filter-beds, and consists of sprinkling-apparatus which is supported wholly or partly by floats and of means for rotating or reciprocating the same. In the form shown in Fig. 1, a float 2, closed at the top and open at the bottom, is fixed to a shaft 10 which is supported in bearings 11, 12. The bearings 12 of the shaft 10 are kept free from liquid by an airtight vessel 43 which is attached to the shaft and surrounds the bearings. To the upper part of the float are attached buckets 3 forming a horizontal water-wheel, which is driven by sewage supplied under pressure by pipes 5 and discharged by nozzles 4 placed at a suitable angle. The buoyancy of the float is adjusted by means of an air cock 17. The liquid falls from the buckets into the float chamber 6, and overflows thence by shoots 7 into a circular channel 8, which delivers it to the distributing troughs or pipes 9. The channel 8 and its troughs 9 are supported by ties 15, 16, which connect them with the head of the shaft 10, and consequently they rotate with the shaft. In Fig. 3, a form is shown in which the motive power is derived entirely from the jets of sewage escaping from the distributing-arms 9. The liquid is supplied from beneath. by the pipe 5, and flows therefrom by openings 19 into the chamber 23 which carries the distributing-pipes 9. The chamber 23 is suspended from a cap 25 pivoted on the bend of the pipe 5, and is also mounted upon a float 2. Bearings are provided at 22 for steadying the apparatus, and at 20 a seal, charged with mercury, prevents the liquid from passing into the float chamber 6 from the chamber 23. Stops 24 are provided on the pipe 5 to prevent the float from lifting the distributer too high, and at 17 is an air cock for adjusting the buoyancy of the float. In the form shown in Fig. 5 the apparatus is adapted for travelling to and fro over a rectangular filter bed. The liquid is supplied from a central channel 26 to the channels 27, at a lower level, by siphons 28, the outer legs of which are provided with deep seals 29, and the reaction of the liquid escaping from holes 30 therein supplies the motive power. The direction of motion is reversed at the ends of the channels by perforated rings 31, which are mounted loosely on the seals and are turned round by contact of projections 32 thereon with fixed strikers. The liquid is delivered from the channels 27 to the distributing-arms by siphons 33. The outer ends of the distributing- arms are carried by floats 34 supported by liquid in channels and guided by wheels 35 running on rails 36. The siphons 28 are also supported on floats, not here shown, in the channels 26. The siphons are fitted with air cocks 38, through which the air may be exhausted when charging them, and the mouths of the siphons are provided with deep seals to prevent loss of the siphonage. For preventing air from accumulating in the siphons, perforated rings, which obviate splashing, are placed in the inside of the water seals of the inlet ends of the siphons, and chambers for the collection of air are connected with the siphons. The chambers are fitted with indicators, and, when necessary, the air is removed. Fig. 7 shows a modfication of the distributing-apparatus described in Specification No. 2749, A.D. 1898, [Abridgment Class Filtering &c.], consisting in providing a circular supply channel 42 and connecting this with the ends of the distributing-arms 9 by siphons 41. The arms 9 may be tapered towards the centre. The Provisional Specification refers also to the use of rising and falling buckets or vessels and connecting chains, levers, or the like, for rotating the distributing- apparatus ; to the use of iris diaphragms, or the like, on the siphons, operated by floats, for varyin the flow of liquid from them ; and the use of floats or blocking-pieces which are carried along by the current of liquid and give motion to the distributing-apparatus. When ball bearings are employed, they are raised above the parts in which liquid may collect, and those parts are provided with means for draining-off the liquid.