Improvements in or relating to the Recovery of Sediment from Clariflers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Recovery of Sediment from
Clariflers.
A communication from OSCAR SCHMIDT, Merchant, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to
be as follows:-
In the apparatus and processes hitherto adopted for the clarification of waste
waters by means of syphon apparatus or deep wells, a great disadvantage arises
from the fact that the sediment deposited in the well or mud receiver has never
yet been capable of removal in, comparatively speaking, a fluid state of sufficient
thickness or consistency; this being attributable to a characteristic peculiarity of
the sedimentary deposit, consisting therein that when an attempt is made to draw
it off, out of a vessel, through an orifice at or near the bottom, it quickly forms a
dome-shaped or arched vault over the opening, which only allows the access to the
mud-pump of quite a thin, fluid, or watery deposit, while the thicker sediment
continues to pile itself up on the said vault. Further, during the periods of
quiescence, the thick part of the sediment not only forms a deposit round and about
the outlet opening but also on the internal surface of the mud-collector itself, under
the pressure of the water, in a proportionately less time solidifying and forming
compact masses which can only be dislodged with the aid of mechanical appliances,
i.e. by agitators, and thorough cleansing of the apparatus.
Now in order to remedy this defect my correspondent employs the following
process;-
The sedimentary deposit to be got rid of is no longer, as hitherto, conveyed away
from the deep-well of the mud-collector to the mud-pump by pipes or canals which
in favourable situations leads to stagnation and consolidation; but before any
solidification is possible, it is at once got rid of by a pump, applied directly to the
mud-collector, whereof the suction-valve is located in the very thickest part of the
silt, i.e. therefore in the deepest place of the mud-collector; and the working of
which can further be promoted by a slow process of stirring and propulsion towards
the pump-valve.
But
The pump required for this process, as well as the stirring device, must of course
be operated from above, and in syphon apparatus carried through this latter.
as it is absolutely essential to be able to get at the pump at any moment for the
purpose of examination and cleaning, these apparatus must be so constructed that
the pump may be lifted out entirely without disturbing the driving mechanism.
At the same time it is equally necessary that a special arrangement should be made
whereby the stirring device-whereof the shaft must of necessity owing to the very
construction of the apparatus, be concentric with the shaft of the pump-should be
capable of being driven independently of the working of the nud-pump and
vice-versa the pump working independently of the agitator.
The communicator has therefore designed the following apparatus serving to
facilitate and render possible the removal of the mud, silt, or sediment in the fluid
state. As an example an apparatus is described provided with a syphon-bell or exhaust
Vessel

page_text: The syphon-vessel is supported on girders over the deep-well and fitted with a
syphon-pipe as outlet. The deepest part of the well forms a conical mud-collector.
The well is connected to a distributing canal by inlet channels. These connecting
channels may either be outside the masonry of the well, carried downwards, and
delivering the slush in a horizontal stratum over the bottom of the well; or con-
structed as vertical pipes inside the wall of the well. At the same time it is
advantageous so to choose or arrange the approaches of the water from the
canal to the apparatus in direction, as that a slow circular motion shall be imparted
to the fluid volume within the apparatus and therefore to the ascending column.
To this end it is only necessary to lay the inlet-mouths in a direction tangential to
the wall or curbing of the well.
The syphon-vessel or bell is also fitted with a pipe of considerable diameter fixed
with water-tight joints, and extending downwards below the outer water-level of
the distribution canal or to the bottom edge of the bell, but which is open to the
atmospheric air, so that the water in a second pipe may stand at the same level as
that in the canal outside the bell. Through this pipe passes the hollow vertical
shaft of the agitator, driven by bevelled spur-gear and first-motion shaft by means
of a belt-pulley or equivalent motive power. This hollow shaft must be of such
dimensions as to admit and receive the silt-pump with its lift-pipe and suction
valve box, and so that the entire pump and appurtenance can be lifted out of it.
The agitator-shaft which is carried in suitable bearings in the dome of the syphon-
vessel and extends downwards into the mud-collector carries on that part which is
within the latter, an agitator or stirring device. This frame is preferably conical
in shape and fitted with a series of agitating scoops winding spirally round its
periphery, close to the corresponding inner surface of the mud-collector. The silt-
pump is together with its lift-pipe suspended from a hanging frame above the
crown of the syphon-vessel or supported in any other convenient and suitable
manner and is driven from above by means of a connecting rod and crank appliance.
With a view to rapidity and facility of cleansing etc. the entire pump can be raised
and taken out of the well by the aid of a crane.
In a modification specially adapted for an installation of greater size the sunk
well is not contracted in conical form but continued cylindrical in its lower part,
so that the superficial area, required to be given it at the outlet above, is also
given to it below, at the inlet of the water to be clarified just above the mud-
collector. By this means a stronger and more effectual action is obtained for the
separation of the slime or sediment in the sunk well which is equivalent to either
an increased useful effect or to a diminished size of the syphon vessel with the same
capacity of yield. Of course the agitator must undergo corresponding modification
to adapt it to work in this form of apparatus.
These arrangements offer therein the greatest advantage that not only the
sediment in the mud-collector by the working of the agitator is prevented from
consolidating but also that the pump or separate parts thereof can while the
apparatus is working and without interference or disturbance thereof be taken out
cleaned, repaired, or exchanged for others.
Thus I am enabled to obviate all deposit and consolidation of the mud-silt,
or sediment, and at the same time to avoid the waste of pumping thin, watery,
fluid slime and consequently the thorough cleansing of the apparatus necessitated
thereby which involves the complete emptying of the deep well and stoppage of
work.
Dated this 30th day of January 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Recovery of Sediment trom
Clarifiers.
A communication from OSCAR SCHMIDT, Merchant, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
In the apparatus and processes hitherto adopted for the clarification of waste-
waters by means of syphon-apparatus or deep-wells, a great disadvantage arises
from the fact that the sediment deposited in the well or mud-receiver has never yet
been capable of removal in, comparatively speaking, a fluid state of sufficient
thickness or consistency; this being attributable to a characteristic peculiarity of
the sedimentary deposit consisting therein, that, when an attempt is made to draw
it off, out of a vessel, through an orifice at or near the bottom, it quickly forms a
dome-shaped or arched vault over the opening, which only allows the access to the
mud-pump of quite a thin, fluid or watery deposit, while the thicker sediment
continues to pile itself up on the said vault. Further during the periods of
quiescence, the thick part of the sediment not only forms a deposit round and about
the outlet opening but also on the internal surface of the mud-collector itself, under
the pressure of the water, in a proportionately less time solidifying and forming
compact masses, which can only be dislodged with the aid of mechanical appliances,
i.e. by agitators, and thorough cleansing of the apparatus.
Now in order to remedy this defect my correspondent employs the following
process
The sedimentary deposit to be got rid of is no longer, as hitherto, conveyed away
from the deep-well of the mud-collector to the mud-pump by pipes or canals which
in favourable situations leads to stagnation and consolidation; but before any
solidification is possible it is at once got rid of by a pump, applied directly to the
mud-collector, whereof the suction-valve is located in the very thickest part of the
silt, i.e. therefore in the deepest place of the mud-collector, and the working of which
can further be promoted by a slow process of stirring and propulsion towards the
pump valve.
The pump required for this process as well as the stirring device, must of course
be operated from above, and in syphon-apparatus carried through this latter. But
as it is absolutely essential to be able to get at the pump at any moment, for the
purpose of examination and cleaning, these apparatus must be so constructed that
the pump may be lifted out entirely without disturbing the driving mechanism. At
the same time it is equally necessary that a special arrangement should be made,
whereby the stirring device-whereof the shaft must of necessity, owing to the very
construction of the apparatus, be concentric with the shaft of the pump-should be
capable of being driven independently of the working of the mud-pump, and vice-
versa, the pump working independently of the agitator.
The applicant has therefore designed the following apparatus shown in the
accompanying drawings, which serve to facilitate and render possible the removal
of the mud, silt or sediment in the fluid state. As an example, an apparatus is
shown, provided with a syphon-bell or exhaust vessel :
Figs. 1 and 2 represent the general arrangement of the apparatus in vertical
section (partly in elevation) and in plan.
Figs. 3 and 4 show on an enlarged scale, special details of the same.
Fig. 5 shows a somewhat different modification of Fig. 1, which is specially
adapted for an installation of greater size as the sunk well is not contracted in

page_text: conical form but continued cylindrical in its lower part, so that the superficial area,
required to be given it at the outlet above is also given to it, below, at the inlet of
the water to be clarified, just above the mud-collector. By this means a stronger
and more effectual action is obtained for the separation of the slime or sediment in
the sunk well, which is equivalent to either an increased useful effect or to a
diminished size of the syphon vessel with the same capacity of yield. Of course
the agitator must undergo corresponding modification to adapt it to work in this
form of apparatus.
In the drawings A is the syphon-vessel supported on girders a over the deep-
well B and fitted with syphon-pipe b as outlet. The deepest part of the well forms
a conical mud-collector C. The well is connected to the distributing canal D by
inlet-channels E. These connecting channels may either be as shown in Figure 1,
outside the masonry of the well, carried downwards, and delivering the slush in a
horizontal stratum over the bottom of the well; or as shown in Figure 5, constructed
as vertical pipes inside the wall of the well. At the same time it is advantageous
so to choose or arrange the approaches of the water from the canal D to the
apparatus, in direction, as that a slow circular motion shall be imparted to the fluid
volume within the apparatus, and therefore to the ascending column. To this end
it is only necessary to lay the inlet-mouths in a direction tangential to the wall or
curbing of the well.
The syphon-vessel or bell A is also fitted with a pipe c of considerable diameter,
fixed with water-tight joints and extending downwards below the outer-water-level
of the distribution canal D, or to the bottom edge of the bell, but which is open to the
atmospheric air, so that the water in the pipe d may stand at the same level as that
in the canal D outside the bell. Through this pipe passes the hollow vertical shaft
of the agitator, driven by the bevelled spur-gear ef and first-motion shaft g by
means of a belt-pulley, or equivalent motive power. This hollow shaft must be of
such dimensions as to admit and receive the silt-pump with its lift-pipe and suction-
valve box, and so that the entire pump and appurtenance can be lifted out of it.
The agitator shaft, which is carried in suitable bearings in the dome of the syphon
vessel and extends downwards into the mud-collector, carries, on that part which is
within the latter, an agitator or stirring device. This frame is preferably conical
in shape and fitted with a series of agitating scoops, winding spirally round its
periphery, close to the corresponding inner surface of the mud-collector. The
silt-pump is together with its lift-pipe suspended from a hanging frame above the
crown of the syphon-vessel, or supported in any other convenient and suitable
manner, and is driven from above, by means of the connecting-rod i and crank-
appliance k. With a view to rapidity and facility of cleansing etc. the entire pump
can be raised and taken out of the well by the aid of the crane l.
This arrangement offers therein the greatest advantage that not only the sediment
in the mud-collector, by the working of the agitator is prevented from consolidating,
but also that the pump or separate parts thereof, can while the apparatus is
working, and without interference or disturbance thereof, be taken out, cleaned,
repaired, or exchanged for others.
Thus my correspondent is enabled to obviate all deposit and consolidation of the
mud, silt or sediment, and at the same time to avoid the waste of pumping thin,
watery, fluid slime and consequently the thorough cleansing of the apparatus
necessitated thereby-which involves the complete emptying of the deep-well and
stoppage of work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. A process for the separation of sediment in a thick and semi-fluid state from
water in clarifying apparatus with syphon-vessel or deep well so arranged that the
sediment in the mud-collector is removed by an exchangeable pump working in the
collector itself and driven from above while at the same time it is prevented from

page_text: accumulating and consolidating itself on the walls of the mud-collector by the use
of an agitator rotating round the axis of the pump substantially as specified.
2. In a process such as described in Claim 1 the employment of a silt-pump which
is removable through the tube that acts as its delivery-pipe as well as guide aud
can be changed in part or whole the driving mechanism of the pump passing the
same tube which at the place where it passes through the syphon-vessel when such
is used is connected with the latter by a tight joint in such manner that the
exchanging of the pump does not interrupt the working, substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. For carrying out the process described in Claim 1 the employment of a hollow
agitator shaft driven from above in which the silt-pump with its delivery pipe and
suction-valve is extended down to the bottom and also the driving mechanism which
actuates them and through which the former can be removed and exchanged while
at the same time to avoid the use of a gland and stuffing box in apparatus fitted
with a syphon-vessel the said hollow shaft can be arranged inside a tube or pipe of
considerable diameter extending from the top of the syphou-vessel, with which it is
connected by a tight joint to the bottom edge of the said vessel where it is open
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In the process described in Claim 1 the use of conduits of approach for the
more speedy separation of the sediment which allow the water which is to be
clarified to flow from all sides into the apparatus at the bottom in an even horizontal
layer or stratum substantially as specified.
5. In the process described in Claim 1 the use of supply conduits for the more
speedy separation of the sediment which allow the water which is to be clarified to
flow into the apparatus at the bottom from all sides in a direction nearly tangential
and in an even horizontal layer or stratum in order to impart a slowly circulating
movement to the water in the ascending column within the apparatus, substantially
as specified.
6. The arrangement of the apparatus necessary for carrying out the process
described in Claim 1 in such manner that vertically or nearly so above one another
are to be found in succession from the lowest at the bottom or as continuation of
the sunk well the pointed conical silt or mud-collector and as continuation of the
well upwards a syphon vessel or bell in which several parts the apparatus described
in Claim 2 is arranged and erected the whole operating substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of October 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.