THE FILTRATION OF WATER FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER SUPPLY BY MEANS OF A NEW MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENT
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Topham of 52 Church Street Manchester
in the County of Lancaster for an invention of "THE FILTRATION OF WATER
FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER SUPPLY BY MEANS OF A NEW MECHANICAL
ARRANGEMENT."
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Topham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July 1882.
JOHN HENRY TOPHAM of 52 Church Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster THE FILTRATION OF WATER FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER SUPPLY BY
MEANS OF A NEW MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENT,
My invention consists of a cylindrical tube, with conical ends terminating in a
short pipe of about half an inch in length tapped with a screw thread, in which I
place my filtering material consisting of animal charcoal in coarse grain and
block or any other suitable filtering material I hereafter may find it advisable to
use. Upon one end of the tube is screwed a short curved pipe, and the other end
is screwed into a boss, which works upon a hollow pivot which is affixed to the
ordinary domestic house tap, by means of a split socket which is tightened upon
the nozzle by a nut, working upon a gradually enlarging screw thread on the
outside. The pivot, which stands out horizontally at a right angle to the house
tap; is drilled in two places the top and the side, so that when the filter stands in
a perpendicular position the water flows out of an orifice drilled in the under part
of the boss, unfiltered. But upon the filter being turned upon the pivot a quarter
of a turn, the lower orifice is closed, and the water being admitted at the end of
the Filter flows through it and out of the short curved pipe which is screwed upon
the other end.
I find that brass is the best metal of which to make it, but it can be made in
iron. It may be ornamented by electroplating, gilding &c.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Topham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd January
1883.
JOHN HENRY TOPHAM of 52 Church Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster "THE FILTRATION OF WATER, FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER SUPPLY, BY
MEANS OF A NEW MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENT."
It consists of a Cylindrical brass tube with conical ends each terminating in a
screwed nozzle. One of these ends is screwed into a boss which turns upon a
hollow pivot a quarter of a turn. The pivot is affixed to the house or other supply
tap by means of a split socket of brass which is compressed by means of a nut
working upon a screwthread upon the outside of the socket and made watertight
by means of an Asbestos washer Or the pivot may be affixed by soldering directly
to the tap.
The Filter when not in use stands upright beside the house (or other) tap (in
the manner shown in Fig. 1, in the Drawing) and the water runs out of the
Aperture marked a (Fig: 1.)-for use, it is turned upon the pivot until it stands at
right angles to its former position when the Water is forced through the Cylindrical
tube (6) and out of the curved tube (c) at the end.
For cleansing, it is unscrewed from the boss at the small joint (d) and reversed,
thus reversing the flow of the water, and washing out all impurities filtered from
the water.
The Cylindrical tube I fill in the following manner. In the conical ends of the
Cylinder I place two small Sponges, holding them in their places by means of a
circular piece of brass wire gauze. The remainder of the Cylinder I pack with
Asbestos and Animal Charcoal. The Asbestos in the form of Cloth, and the Charcoal
in coarse grain. I place three layers of Asbestos Cloth, one at each end and one in
the centre.
I claim the use of the pivot for filtering purposes.
I claim the peculiar form of the Cylindrical Chamber and Filter generally.
I claim the peculiar method of packing the Charcoal and Asbestos.
I claim the union for connecting and the sole right to use Asbestos joints for
affixing Filters to taps.