AN IMPROVED FILTERING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Moore, of Norwich, Connecticut, United
States of America, Manufacturer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED FILTERING
APPARATUS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Henry Moore at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th May 1880.
GEORGE HENRY MOORE, of Norwich, Connecticut, United States of America,
Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVED FILTERING APPARATUS.”
This Invention relates to filtration, particularly the filtration of liquids, and its
use is to separato a fluid from any undissolved particles or solid matter contained
therein. The Invention consists in a compartment for containing filtering material,
preferably finely divided animal charcoal, having parts of the compartment wall
movable, by means of which the filtering material may be compressed in different
lines of direction, this to govern and regulate the compactness of the filtering
material and the size of the filtering interstices. The Invention further consists in
a compartment for containing filtering material having parts of the compartment
wall movable, by means of which the dimensions of the compartment may be enlarged
in different lines of direction, this to effect the entire absence of compression
on the filtering material when it is desired to wash or cleanse the filtering
material by a direct or reverse current of fluid passed through the compartment.
The Invention further consists in a certain specific form of apparatus for attaining
the two ends already specified. The Invention further consists in the union and
use of a plural number of receptacles or chambers for the unfiltered fluid preparatory
to its passage through the filtering compartment, this to effect an equalization of
current in distributing the fluid to and around the filtering compartment.
The Invention further consists in a number of distributing pipes arranged around
and about the filtering compartment, to still further aid in effecting an equalization
of the distribution of the unfiltered fluid to and around the filtering compartment.
The Invention further consists in a specific form of apparatus for attaining the
two ends last specified. The Invention further consists in outlets for the unfiltered
fluid, so placed and directed relatively to the filtering compartment and filtering

page_text: material as to give a rotary movement to the unfiltered fluid upon and around the
filtering compartment and the filtering material, this to effect the prolongation of
the filtering process, and to retard the deposit of solid matter upon and in the
filtering material. The Invention further consists in a rod or the like visible on
the exterior of the filtering apparatus, and communicating with a movable part or
appurtenance of the filtering compartment, by means of which the compactness and
compression of the filtering material is indicated to an observer. The Invention
further consists in a rod or the like visible on the exterior of the filtering apparatus,
and communicating with a movable part or appurtenance of the filtering compart-
ment, by means of which the position of a movable part of the compartment wall
relative to the other part or parts is indicated to an observer.
The Invention further consists in certain combinations of mechanical parts,
particularly specified in the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th clauses of claim at the
end of this Specification.
In the Drawing, which accompanies this description;
Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section of a machine or apparatus embodying
this Invention.
Figure 2 is a view of such a machine or apparatus in horizontal cross-section on
the plane denoted by the dotted line x, x, (Figure 1,) looking upward.
Figure 3 is a detail elevation view of the cone-frustum compressor hereinafter
described, shewn as appurtenant to an end-compressor.
Figure 4 is a detail elevation view of a modification, shewing two cone-frustum
compressors arranged to work together.
The letter a denotes the outer case of the machine or apparatus, a hollow cylinder
with flanged extremities, to which the heads b, c are attached by any proper means.
The letter & denotes a flange within the case a, furnishing a support for the filterin
cylinder e through the medium of the flange f appurtenant thereto. The
the filtering cylinder is perforated by holes, and the inner side of this wall is coated
with the strainer lining of fine wire cloth or the like. The letter i denotes an
end compressor, fitting and (adjustably) moving within the filtering cylinder, and the
letter denotes another and similar end-compressor; these two end compressors are
borne on the screw threaded shaft, the two threads being one right hand, and the
other left-hand, so that on rotating the threaded shaft the end-compressors will
approach or recede from each other simultaneously.
The lower end-compressor is provided with the stuffing box to prevent the
passage of fluid at this point.
The lower end-compressor bears the hollow conc-frustum compressor m, the wall
of which is perforated and outwardly coated with strainer lining n. The loose
filtering material is contained within the compartiment or chamber formed by the
filtering cylinder, the end-compressors and the conc-frustum compressor; and the
fluid is filtered by passing from the outside of the filtering cylinder through the
perforations in the cylinder wall, and through the filtering material to the inside of
the cone-frustum.
The upper end-compressor bears the annular recess o, within which fits and
(adjustably) slides the regularly shaped upper end of the cone-frustum; the wall
of this annular recess is perforated, and through these perforations the filtered fluid
finds access to the filtered-fluid chamber p, whence it is taken off by pipes to
desired points. The unfiltered fluid finds access to the apparatus through pipes 8
to the (preferably annular) unfiltered-fluid receptacle t, whence it flows up into
distributing pipes u, which rise from receptacle t at suitable intervals, and are
provided with outlets into the receptacle a", whereby the incoming fluid is
directed upon the surface of the filtering chamber and filtering material causing an
agitation of the fluid that tends to prolong the filtering process and retard the
clogging of the filtering material. The preferable mode is to so set the outlets v
as to direct the current in a rotary direction on the surface of the filtering
compartment.
The extra unfiltered-fluid receptacle t is of special utility when the fluid to be

page_text: filtered is unusually loaded with foreign matter; at other times the unfiltered fluid
may come directly into the receptacle a¹. The shaft h passes out through the
lower head c, there being stuffing box w at its point of passage to prevent the
escape of fluid.
At its lower end the threaded shaft is provided with the bevel
gear y into which meshes the bevel pinion 2, borne on the same shaft with the hand
wheel a¹, by the rotation of which the compressors may be moved in adjustment,
and the compactness of the filtering material and the dimensions of the filtering
compartment governed and controlled. By this simple form of apparatus I
accomplish the pressing together of the filtering material in different directions
longitudinally, between the cone-frustum compressor and the cylinder wall; also
the enlarging of the dimensions of the compartment in different direction so that a
current of fluid passed through the compartment for cleansing purposes finds the
particles of filtering material free to move about, and amenable to the cleansing
process. To clear the filtering compartment of filtering material, the lower end
compressor is receded to leave the lower end of the cylinder open, through which
the material can escape and be drawn off through pipes 61.
To put in new filtering material the head b is removed, and also the upper end-
compressor. The letter c' denotes an indicator rod appurtenant to a movable
end-compressor passing outside the exterior casing (where it may be graduated), to
denote the position of the compressor and the compactness of the filtering material.
I remark that as a modification one of the end-compressors (preferably the upper)
may be stationary; also, that the end-compressors may each bear a cone-frustum
compressor, as illustrated in Figure 4; also, that the cone-frustum compressor
night operate independently of the end-compressor; also, that the form and
arrangement of the filtering cylinder and the compressors can be changed without
departing from my Invention, so long as they operate to produce substantially the
same results.
I claim as my Invention,―
1. In a filtering apparatus a compartment for filtering material, provided with
compressors, the movement of which compresses the material in different lines
of direction, as set forth.
2. In a filtering apparatus a compartment for filtering material, provided
with movable parts, the movement of which enlarges the dimensions of the
compartment in different lines of direction, as set forth.
3. In a filtering apparatus the filtering cylinder, the end-compressors, and
the cone-frustum compressor, all combined as set forth.
4. In a filtering apparatus the plural number of receptacles for the unfiltered
fluid on its way to be filtered, as set forth.
5. In a filtering apparatus distributing pipes arranged about the filtering
compartment, as set forth.
6. In a filtering apparatus the exterior casing, the extra unfiltered fluid
receptacle, the distributing pipes and filtering compartment, all combined as set
forth.
7. In a filtering apparatus the outlets for the unfiltered fluid, set at a direction
relative to the filtering compartment to give a rotary movement of the fluid
therein, as set forth.
8. In a filtering apparatus an exterior indicator of the compactness of the
filtering material through a rod communicating with a movable part of the
filtering compartment, as set forth.
9. In a filtering apparatus an exterior indicator of the position of a compressor
relative to the filtering compartment, through a rod communicating with a movable
part of the compartment, as set forth.
10. The filtering cylinder, the end compressors, the hollow cone-frustum com-
pressor, the threaded shaft, and the stuffing box appurtenant to the end-compressor,
all combined as set forth.
11. The filtering cylinder, the lower end-compressor, bearing the cone-frustum

page_text: compressor regularly shaped at its upper end, and the upper end compressor having
the annular recess, all combined as set forth.
12. The exterior casing, the filtering cylinder, the end compressors, and the
threaded shaft passing out the lower head of the casing, all combined as set forth.
13. The exterior casing provided with the internal flange, the induction pipes,
the extra unfiltered-fluid receptacle provided with the distributing pipes, the
filtering cylinder, the end-compressors, the cone-frustum compressor, and the threaded
shaft, all combined as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Moore, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 24th day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
GEORGE HENRY MOORE. (L.S.)