A NEW OB IMPROVED FILTERING MEDIUM SUITABLE ALSO AS A DISINFECTANT AND DEODORISER
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT. to James Robcy, of the City of Manchester, Sugar
Refiner, for the Invention of "A NEW OB IMPROVED FILTERING MEDIUM
SUITABLE ALSO AS A DISINFECTANT AND DEODORISER."
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Robey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th May 1872.
I, JAMES ROBEY, of the City of Manchester, Sugar Refiner, do hereby
5 declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OB. IMPROVED
FILTERING MEDIUM SUITABLE ALSO AS A DISINFECTANT and DEODORISER," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is the manufacture of a substance
suitable as a filtering medium, precipitant, and disinfectant for sewage
) and other impure liquids, and as a deodoriser for use in dry closets and
commodes, and consists in taking agricultural or alluvial soil, or other
soil containing vegetable organic matters, and calcining the same in
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page_text: close iron or other suitable vessels, such as those ordinarily used in the
manufacture of animal charcoal.
It is now well known that sewage water filtered through raw agricul-
tural soil is thereby rendered pure, but owing to the plasticity of such
soils filtration through them is very tedious, but I have found the same t
soil when properly charred in close vessels to filter with case and
rapidity, owing to the porosity thereby imparted to it.
The soils I have found most useful for the purpose of this Invention
are those containing a large proportion of silicate of allumina and
humus, and consequently if either or both of these substances are
deficient in quantity I add the same in suitable proportions according
to the nature of the soil previous to charring it.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said James
Robey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
ROBEY, of the City of Manchester, Sugar Refiner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors;
give and grant unto me, the said James Robey, Her special licence that
I, the said James Robey, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said James Kobey, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, usc, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED FILTERING
MEDIUM SUITABLE ALSO AS A DISINFECTANT AND DEODORISER," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Robey, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the

page_text: Great Seal Patent Office on or before the Fourth day of December
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Robey, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this Invention is the manufacture of a substance
suitable as a filtering medium, precipitant, and disinfectant for sewage
and other such impure liquids, and as a deodoriser for use in dry closets
and commodes.
In carrying out my Invention I take agricultural or alluvial soil,.
and I charr the same in close iron or other vessels similar to those used
in the manufacture of animal charcoal and at or about the same
temperature.
It is now well known that sewage water filtered through raw agricul-
tural soil or agricultural soil in its natural condition is thereby rendered
pure, but owing to the plasticity of such soil filtration through it is
very tedious. I have found that soil of the same character, or even
alluvial deposit when properly charred in close vessels as herein-before
described, may be advantageously used as a filtering medium as it filters
with case and rapidity, owing to the porosity imparted to it by the
charring process adopted by me, and at the same time the soil when so
treated is considerably improved as a disinfectant and deodoriser.
The soils which I find to be most suitable for the purpose of this
Invention are those consisting for the most part of clay and humus, and
consequently I avoid the use of soils containing much sand, gravel, or
substances other than the aforesaid clay and humus as such additional
substances only add to the bulk and weight of the charcoal without
increasing its efficiency.
It is obvious that if a soil be found in its ordinary state to be suitable
in other respects, but slightly deficient in clay or humus, it may be
readily made altogether suitable by adding a small proportion of the
required component without materially altering the character of the
soil, or entailing-any material expence in preparing and mixing them
together.
It will thus be seen that by a simple and inexpensive treatment a
substance found in its ordinary, and what may be termed its natural

page_text: state, and containing carbonaceous and mineral matters ready mixed
may be used as a very cheap and efficient filtering medium, as it only
requires to be charred as herein-before described to render it fit for
use while it will also be found to be very suitable for being employed
as a disinfectant and deodoriser. The material can be revivified by
re-charring.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner in which it
is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as
forming any part of this my Invention the employment of charred peat
and clay, the peat and clay being combined to form a mixture which is:
then charred in retorts. Nor do I claim the mixing of clay or lime or
a combination of clay and lime with animal or vegetable matters, and
charring the same in retorts or other like apparatus, or the use of such
mixtures when so mixed and charred.
By my Invention the labour and expence of previously preparing and :
mixing by artificial or mechanical means in the manner heretofore
adopted an expressly mixed compound are avoided, and what I claim is,
the manufacture from ordinary agricultural or alluvial soil of a very
cheap and efficient filtering medium also suitable for use as a dis-
infectant and deodoriser by simply subjecting the same to a charring:
process in the manner and for the purposes above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Robey, have hereunto set my
hand and 'seal, the Fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office,
71, Market St.,
Manchester.
JA³. ROBEY. (L.S.)