Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1887.
Complete Left, 14th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Oct., 1887.
I, JOHN HOWES, of Worcester, in the County of Worcester, and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my present invention, is first-to provide a filter having a large area
of filtering surface and occupying but a comparatively small space. Second-to
provide an apparatus having one or more filtering cylinders provided with spirals or
helical channels, interior of the filtering cylinders, for conducting the liquid to the
inner surface of the filtering material; also, suitable chambers for the unfiltered and
filtered liquid, and means for the cleansing of the chambers and passages wherein the
sediment is deposited. Third-to perfect the details of construction, and make an
apparatus adapted for large or small service which can be manufactured with economy,
and maintained for practical operation with little trouble and expense.
In carrying out the invention I construct an outer shell or cylinder which is
supported on a frame or base, and provided with a suitable top or cover, which parts
together form a tight casing, within which the filtering devices are enclosed.
The filter cylinders consist of a tube, or tubes, of felt distended and supported about
a helically flanged core or screw-shaped shaft having suitable heads or ends to which
the felt is firmly secured by clamping rings embracing the ends of the tubes, and
binding them to the periphery of the heads. The felt may be protected and reinforced
by a cylinder of wire gauze, perforated sheet metal, or a spiral coil of wire arranged
about the outside of the tube, also at the interior of the felt if desired. One or more
of these tubular, spirally-cored filter cylinders may be arranged within a single casing
according to the capacity of the apparatus required. They are arranged in a manner
to allow of the supply liquid to circulate through the internally disposed helical
channel or screw shaped shaft along the inner surface of the filtering material from
whence it percolates through to the filtrate chamber or space between the casing, and
the filter cylinder, from which the filtered water, or liquid can be drawn or conducted
as required.

page_text: My improvements can be adapted for small filters such as used for household
purposes, or for large filters such as may be used for manufacturing purposes, or
where large quantities of liquid are to be filtered. For household or similar purposes
I preferably construct a single filter cylinder apparatus; in this, the outer cylinder
may be made of sufficient size to hold only one filter cylinder. For other purposes I
prefer to use the duplex or compound construction of apparatus in which the casing is
made large enough to contain two or more filter cylinders.
The single filter apparatus being of more economical construction than the duplex
form, it is therefore more desirable for small filters, while the compound form gives a
proportionally greater area of filtering surface in a given size or bulk, and is therefore
better adapted for large filters in use in factories and other situations, when large
quantities of liquid have to be treated in short space of time.
The helically flanged core or screw shaped shaft in large sized filtering apparatus
may be constructed of cast iron, with a central pipe of wrought iron laid into the
mould when casting, thus leaving a hole through the length of the helical shaft for
the clamping bolt. This construction is a very convenient and economical method
when it is necessary to use long shafts. Another method of construction is to turn a
thin spiral band and attach it at its inner edge to a cylindrical pipe by soldering, or in
other manner. The helix may be constructed in any other suitable manner whereby
the requisite shape is produced. The screw or flange of the helix may be single or
double threaded as desired, the number of channels of course, corresponding with the
number of separating flanges.
A supply pipe conducts the liquid to be filtered into a supply chamber either in the
upper or lower part of the apparatus, which communicates by suitable passages with
the helical channel within the filtering cylinders. If the supply chamber is in the
lower part of the apparatus, a passage is provided, which extends up through the
interior of the filter-supporting shaft to deliver the liquid into the top of the helical
passages, but if the supply chamber is at the top, openings are provided direct through
the disc which separates said chamber from the filtrate chamber. A stop-cock may Be
arranged in the supply pipe.
A discharge chamber is provided for sediment or dirty water in the lower part of
the apparatus, which communicates with the lower ends of the helical passages, and a
waste or discharge passage is also provided, fitted with a suitable cock or valve for the
purpose of cleansing the apparatus by permitting a rapid flow of liquid through the
passages, and out at the discharge.
A pipe or passage through which the clear or filtered liquid is drawn from the
filtrate chamber. is provided in any suitable position. Said pipe may lead to a draft
cock, or io a storage tank at any convenient locality.
A clamping bolt or rod may conveniently pass longitudinally through the centre of
the filter shaft for connecting the upper and lower heads or plates, and for retaining
the parts of the apparatus in position. In the small sized filter the bolt may bo
extended at the top so as to pass through the head or cover of the casing provided
with a second nut for holding said casing down upon the base. If desired, an
ornamental cap may be fitted over the nut to give a neat finish. In a large filtering
apparatus flanges may be provided with bolts for bolting the head onto the cylinder,
and a ring may be fixed on the head for the connection of a crane or hoist for lifting
off the head, when it is desired to have access to the interior. The ends of the
helically channelled filter shafts may be formed with annular bearing rings, with
grooves for receiving packing gaskets so as to make tight joints with the surface of
the head-plates or discs when the clamping nuts or bolts are screwed down, the said
heads are properly packed so as to give a tight joint between the supply chamber, and
the filtrate chamber.
A passage and cock may be employed in large filtering apparatus, for drawing off
and cleansing the filtrate chamber when desired.
In the operation of my improved filtering apparatus, the water or liquid enters the
supply chamber, and passes into the helical channels within the filtering cylinders,
thence, through the felt or filtering material to the filtrate chamber, leaving the dirt

page_text: and sediment deposited on the inner surface of the felt. To remove the dirt from the
filter, the waste valve is opened which causes a rapid flow of liquid through the helical
channels, washing off the deposit from the felt, and carrying it away through the
waste pipe.
In the best adaptation of large filtering apparatus in practice, it is proposed to
conduct the filtered water to a reservoir or storage tank, situated at some convenient
height above the level of the filter.
The action from the high level tank serves to further facilitate cleansing of the felt
as the filtered water deposited in a tank above the filter, flows back reversely through
the filtering material, when the waste valve is open thereby releasing the deposited
sediment, while the general circulating current carries it away, and to make this still
more effectual the waste pipe is carried as far below the filter as practical. This will
tend to produce a vacuum in the filter which will increase, the power both of the
general current, and the reverse flow of the filtered water.
Among the advantages of the construction herein described, may be mentioned, the
facility and economy of manufacture and maintenance. The screw or helically flanged
core being inside, holds the felt distended, when with an external screw or helix a
special frame is required to distend the felt. The parts, in a large filtering apparatus
are easily handled, and also, the several filter cylinders can be renewed singly without
requiring a complete new fitting throughout, when but a small part of the material
becomes worn or damaged. These considerations apply more forcibly as the size of
the apparatus is increased.
Another advantage of this construction, is that the centrifugal action of the liquid
flowing in the helical passages is expended on the inner surface of the felt and exerts
its force for removing therefrom the accumulated deposit of sediment.
In this description, I have referred to the tubular filtering cylinders as being made
of felt, which is, as I consider, in most instances the best material for filtering
purposes. it will however, be understood that the filtering cylinders may, when desired,
be of cloth, fine wire gauze, paper, or other substance, or material, of suitable nature,
and such substances, used in the manner set forth, I include as within the scope of
my present invention,
An opening and removable plug are arranged, for attaching a hose or pipe for
injecting hot water or steam for cleaning the surface of the casing when desired."
Dated this 12th day of March 1887.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, JOHN HOWES of Worcester, in the County of Worcester, and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my present invention is First; to provide a filter having a large area
of filtering surface and occupying but a comparatively small space. Second-to
provide an apparatus having one or more filtering cylinders provided with spirals or
helical channels interior of the filtering cylinders for conducting the liquid to the
inner surface of the filtering material; also, suitable chambers for the unfiltered and
filtered liquid and means for the cleansing of the chambers and passages wherein the
sediment is deposited. Third-to perfect the details of construction and make an
apparatus adapted for large or small service which can be manufactured with economy,
and maintained for practical operation with little trouble and expense.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a filtering apparatus embracing my improvements
as adapted and applied in a filter for the purposes of ordinary household water service;
and in which the inlet and outlet connections are at, or near, the same level.
Figure 2 is a sectional view showing portions of the interior parts in side elevation
to more fully illustrate the construction thereof.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section at line w w, figure 2.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section at line.
Figure 4 is a bottom view of the head of the filter cylinder.
Figure 5 is a vertical, central section of an apparatus embracing my invention as
adapted and applied in a larger filter for manufacturing purposes, and with the inlet
and outlet connections at different levels, respectively at the top and bottom of the
filter.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the head chamber at line y y on figure 5.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section through the filtering chamber at line : = on
figure 5.
Figure 8 is a view of the clamp for securing the filtering material.
Figure 9 is a section of one of the filter-distending shafts or cores.
Figure 10 shows the packing at the ends of the filter-listending shafts.
In referring to parts, A denotes the outer shell or cylinder which is supported on a
base section A and provided with a suitable top or head A which parts together form
a tight casing, within which the filtering devices are enclosed.
The filter cylinders D consist of a tube, or tubes, of felt. D' distended and supported
about a helically flanged core or screw-shaped shaft F having suitable heads or circular
ends to which the felt is firmly secured by clamping rings B, which embrace the
ends of the tubes and bind them to the periphery of the heads d d', as indicated. The

page_text: felt may be protected and reinforced by a cylinder of wire gauze, perforated sheet
metal, or a spiral coil of wire Darranged about the outside of the tube, also at the
interior of the felt if desired. One or more of these tubular, spirally-cored filter
cylinders may be arranged within a single casing cylinder A according to the capacity
of the apparatus required. They are arranged in a manner to allow of the supply
liquid to circulate through the internally disposed helical channel along the inner
surface of the filtering material D' from whence it percolates through to the exterior
or surrounding chamber G from which the filtered water or liquid can be drawn or
conducted as required.
I have shown two forms in which I construct my improved filter, one being adapted
for small filters for household purposes, the other for large filters such as may be used
for manufacturing purposes or where large quantities of liquid are to be filtered.
Sheet 1 illustrates the construction of the sinalf or single filter cylinder apparatus in
this, the outer cylinder A may practically be made about three to six inches, more or
less, in diameter. Sheets 2 and 3 on which the drawings are made to smaller scale,
illustrate the duplex or compound construction of apparatus, wherein the outer
cylinder may be two or three feet, more or less, in diameter.
The filter, made as on sheet 1 is more economical of construction than the form
shown on sheets 2 and 3, and is therefore more desirable for small filters, while the
compound form gives a proportionally greater area of filtering surface in a given
size or bulk, and is therefore better adapted for large filters in use in factories and
other situations when large quantities of liquid have to be treated in short space of
time. In the present illustrated compound construction, seven filtering cylinders or
iubular felts are shown, but any other number may be used if most convenient, or
preferred.
The core or helically flanged shaft F in large sized filtering apparatus may, he
constructed of cast iron, with a central pipe of wrought iron laid into the mould when
casting, thus leaving a hole through the length of the helical shaft for the clamping
bolt. This construction is a very convenient and economical method for the long
shafts such as are shown on sheet 2 of the drawings. Another method of construction
is to turn a thin spiral band and attach it at its inner edge to a cylindrical pipe by
soldering, or in other manner, as in figures 1 and 2. The helix may be constructed
in any other suitable manner whereby the requisite shape is produced. The screw or
flange of the helix, may be single or double threaded as desired, the number of
channels, of course, corresponding with the number of separating flanges".
E indicates the supply pipe which conducts this liquid into a chamber E' that
communicates by suitable passages e with the helical channel within the filtering
cylinders D. In the small filter, figure 1, the chamber E' is at the lower part of the
apparatus, and a passage extends up through the interior of the filter-supporting shaft
to deliver the liquid into the top of the helical passages, while in the large apparaius
the chamber E' is at the top, and the openings e are direct through the disk which
separates said chamber E' from the filtrate chamber G which surrounds the filter
cylinders D. A stop-cock E may be arranged in the supply pipe E.
H indicates a chamber for sediment or dirty water with which the lower ends of the
helical passages communicate; and I denotes the waste or discharge passage fitted
with a suitable cock or valve h for the purpose of cleansing the apparatus by
permitting a rapid flow of liquid through the passages, and out at the discharge.
I denotes the pipe or passage through which the clear or filtered liquid is drawn
from the chamber. Said pipe may lead to a draft cock I, or to a storage tank at any
convenient locality.
Jindicates a bolt or rod passing longitudinally through the centre of the filter
shaft F for connecting the upper and lower heads aa and for retaining the parts of
the apparatus in position. In the small sized filter the bolt J is extended at the top so
as to pass through the head A2 of the cylinder A, and is provided with a second nut j
for holding said cylinder down upon the base A¹ If desired, an ornamental cap K
may be fitted over the nut to give a neat finish. In a large filtering apparatus, the
head may be bolted onto the cylinder in the manner indicated in figure 5, and a ring i

page_text: may be fixed on the head for the connection of a crane or hoist for lifting off the head
when it is desired to have access to the interior. The ends of the helically channeled
filier shafts F may be formed with annular bearing rings m, as in figure 9, with
grooves for receiving packing gaskets so as to make tight joints with the surface of
the head-plates or dises a a¹ when the nuis or bolts ) are turned down, and said heads
are properly packed at n to give a tight joint between their edges and the onter
cylinder A.
A passage and cock L may be employed in large filtering apparatus, for drawing off
and cleansing the chamber & when desired.
In the operation of my improved filtering apparatus, the water or liquid enters the
chamber E and passes into the helical channels within the filtering cylinders D,
thence, through the felt or filtering material C to the chamber G, leaving the dirt and
sediment deposited on the inner surface of the felt D¹. To remove the dirt from the
filter, the waste valve H is opened which causes a rapid flow of liquid through the
helical channels washing off the deposit from the felt, and carrying it away through
the waste pipe H.
In the best adaptation of large filtering apparatus in practice, it is proposed to
conduct the filtered water to a reservoir or storage tank, situated at some convenient
height above the level of the filter.
The action from the high level tank serves to further facilitate cleansing of the felt
as the filtered water deposited in a tank above the filter, flows back reversely through
the filtering material, when the waste valve is open, thereby releasing the deposited
sediment, while the general circulating current carries it away, and to make this still
more effectual the waste pipe is carried as far below the filter as practical. This will
tend to produce a vacuum in the filter which will increase the power both of the
general current and the reverse flow of the filtered water.
Among the advantages of the construction herein shown and described, may be
mentioned, the facility and economy of manufacture and maintenance. The screw or
helically flanged core being inside holds the felt distended; whereas with an external
screw or helix a special frame is required to distend the felt. The parts, in a large
filtering apparatus are easily handled, and also, the several filter cylinders can be
renewed singly without requiring a complete new fitting throughout, when but a
small part of the material becomes worn or damaged. These considerations apply
more forcibly as the size of the apparatus is increased.
Another advantage of this construction, is that the centrifugal action of the liquid
flowing in the helical passages is expended on the inner surface of the felt and exerts
its force for removing therefrom the accumulated deposit of sediment.
In this description, I have referred to the tubular filtering cylinders as being made
of felt, which is, as I consider, in most instances the best material for filtering
purposes, it will however, be understood that the filtering cylinders may, when
desired, he of cloth, fine wire gauze, paper, or other substance, or material, of suitable
nature, and such substances, used in the manner set forth, I include as within the
scope of my present invention.
An opening and removable plug are arranged, as at R, for attaching a hose or pipe
for injecting hot water or steam for cleaning off the surface of the shell A when
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A filter consisting of a cylindrical tube of felted material, distended and supported
internally by a shaft having a helical flange, (or flanges), which separates the space
within the tube into a narrow helical channel (or channels) into which the liquid is
introduced, and flows along the surface of the filter for supplying outward filtration
therethrough, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A filtering apparatus consisting of an inclosing case or cylinder having its
interior space separated into chambers, as E¹, H, and &, and provided with inlet and
outlet passages, as set forth, in combination with a series of tubular filters, as D, each

page_text: supported and distendend by an internal shaft having helical channels through which
the liquid can flow freely from one of the chambers E', to the other chamber H, and
from which channel the liquid percolates through the filters to the surrounding
chamber G, substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination, substantially as herein before described, with the body
cylinder A, base A', and cap A2, and partition plates a and a', having openings e; of
a filter device composed of a hollow standard having a helically disposed rib and
continuous spiral channel, leading from the openings e in one plate a to the
openings in the other plate a, and the tubular felt D surrounding the standard
and supported by said rib, and a surrounding chamber G, between said filter and the
body cylinder, from which the filtered water is withdrawn.
4. The combination, substantially as described, with the base A', cap A², and
enclosing cylinder A, of the hollow shaft F having a helically disposed flange and
intervening channel, the tubular filter D surrounding said shaft, and the connecting
bolt J passing through the centre of said shaft and connecting the parts, in the
manner set forth.
5. A filtering apparatus having a supply chamber E, filtrate chamber G, and
discharge chamber H, with inlet and outlet passages disposed as shown, and a tubular
filter extending through said filtrate chamber with its ends opening respectively into
said supply and discharge chambers, and forming a communicating passage between
the chambers; and stop valves or cocks and arranged for operation, substantially
as shown and described.
6. The combination as described, in a filtering apparatus, of the helically flanged
standard having annular supports at its ends, with openings or passages therethrough;
the tubular felt surrounding said standard, and the adjustable clamping hoop formed
as indicated, surrounding and binding the ends of the felt tube to the periphery of
said annular supporting ends, for the purpose set forth.