Improvements in and relating to Tanks for the Precipitation of 'Sewage and Foul Waters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tanks for the Precipitation of
'Sewage and Foul Waters.
I, GEORGE HENRY SKELSEY, of 18 Cook Street, Liverpool, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the simplification of sewage precipitation and
the automatic removal of the sludge from sewage tanks during such time as the
tanks are in operation by means of the structural apparatus employed therefor.
For this purpose I construct my precipitation tanks in the manner and with the
apparatus hereafter to be explained.
In carrying out my invention I construct my. precipitation tank of brickwork,
iron, or any other suitable material, and moreover I adapt the shape as circum-
stances may direct, either constructing my tank square, elliptical or circular,
and I vary the depth and proportions to meet the exigencies of each. particular
requirement.
1
By a series of walls, shown on the accompanying drawing, and marked A and B,
placed laterally aeross the tank, the sewage is caused to flow up and down
alternately. Each wall marked A, I carry across the tank on a steel or iron
girder, stone or beam, so as to allow the sewage a free passage under the same,
and each wall marked' B. 1 carry up from the tank bottom to within a few inches
of the level of the sewage inlet marked C. in order to allow the sewage to flow
slowly and steadily over the top of the tank wall. On entering my tank the
sewage is discharged into an overflow trough marked D. ou the drawing, the full
width of the tank.in order to distribute the flow over a broad and even surface.
The outlet marked E. on the drawing is constructed in the same manner with a. sill
running the whole width of the tank."
I construct the bottom of each division of the tank in the form of an inverted
bottle neck, as shown on the drawing and marked F: the lines of the curvature being
advisedly as near as may be to those shown on the drawing.
In cross section the upper eurves of the ogee carry the sewage around after its
downward course into the upward division, and leaving a quiescent portion in the
narrow end of the bottle neck marked' G.
By this means the solid particles of the sewage and the lighter flocculent matter,
having been previously broken up, and rendered in a state of flocculation; by the
addition of a chemical reagent (prior to the sewage passing over the inlet sill
marked H) are carried down by the impetus given by the downward flow into
the narrow portion of the bottle neck, laterally along which a channel is formed
covered with tiles having spaces left at the sides, as shown on the drawing and
marked J.
The valve marked K. is for the purpose of allowing the sludge to be run
off into the sludge pipe marked L. When sufficient sludge has accumulated the
valve K. is opened and by the superincumbent pressure of the water in the tank
the sludge is forced into the channel M. and thence through the sludge outlet.
pipes N. valve K. and delivery pipe L. and is discharged at any convenient height
outside the wall of the tank up to within say 8 inches of the water level of the tank
itself.
I advance that this method of precipitation obviates entirely the necessity of
shutting off a tank and allowing a period of quiescence for precipitation to
1

page_text: take place, as in this case the sludge is mechanically assisted in falling to
the neck G. by the curves of the ogee, and the division wall A. so governing
the direction of the current of sewage that a state of quiescence is assured
in the neck.
Moreover solid matter in suspension passing the first division eventually comes
to rest in one or another of the series, the downward impetus after passing
over a division wall B. assisting the solid particles to fall by gravitation into
the neck.
Dated the 4th February 1895
COME LELE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tanks for the Precipitation of
Sewage and Foul Waters.
I, GEORGE HENRY SKELSEY, of 18 Cook Street, Liverpool, 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 :--
T
This invention has for its object the simplification of sewage precipitation
and the automatic removal of the sludge, from sewage tanks during such time
as the tanks are in operation by means of the structural, apparatus., employed
therefor.
For this purpose I construct my precipitation tauks in the manner and with the
apparatus hereafter to be explained with reference to the accompanying sheet of
drawings in which-
Figure 1 is a plan, Fig. 2 a longitudinal section on the line X X, Fig. 1. and
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line Y Y, Fig. 1. of a precipitation tank
constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 4 is a section on a larger scale of the bottom of one of the divisions of the
tank showing one of the tiles in position and
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the tiles.
I construct my precipitation tank of brickwork, iron or any other suitable material,
and either square, elliptical or circular, of any suitable depth and proportions as
required.
1
:
By a series of walls, marked A and B on the accompanying drawings, placed
transversely across the tank the sewage is caused to flow up and down alternately.
Each wall marked A, I carry across the tank on a steel or iron girder or stone.or
other beam A¹ so as to allow the sewage a free passage under the same and each..
wall marked B, I carry up from the tank bottom to within a few inch-
of the sewage inlet C.
In order to allow the e
Ah. -- A
11209
tever
now slowly and steadily over the top of the tank wall
guy tank the sewage is discharged into an overflow trough D with a sill H
which extends the full width of the tank in order to distribute the flow over a broad
and even surface. The outlet. E is constructed in a similar manner with a sill E',
running the whole width of the tank.
4
I construct the bottom of each division of the tank in the form of an inverted
bottle neck as shown in cross section on Fig. 2 of the drawings and marked F, the
lines of the curvature being advisedly as near as may be to those shown. The
upper curves of the ogee carry the sewage around after its downward course into
the upward division, leaving a quiescent portion in the narrow end G of the inverted 5
bottle neck.

page_text: By this means the solid particles of the sewage and the lighter flocculent
matter, having been previously brought into a state of flocculence by the addition
of a chemical re-agent (prior to the sewage passing over the inlet sill H) are
carried down by the impetus given by the downward flow into the narrow inlet G
of the bottle neck, along the bottom of which a channel M is formed. Each
channel M is covered with a tile or tiles J having spaces left at the sides to
permit the sludge to pass, and lugs or ears J¹ on each side near each end to act as
guides and supports as shown best in the detail views, Figs. 4 and 5. Each
channel M is connected by a sludge outlet pipe N and valve K to a delivery or
discharge pipe L.
When sufficient sludge has accumulated a valve K is opened and by the pressure
of the superincumbent water in the tank the sludge is forced into the particular
channel M controlled by said valve and thence through the connecting pipe N and
valve K into the delivery pipe L whence it is discharged at any convenient height
outside the wall of the tank up to within say eighteen inches of the water level in
the tank.
I maintain that this construction and method of precipitation obviates entirely
the necessity of shutting off a tank and allowing a period of quiescence for
precipitation to take place, as in this case the sludge is mechanically assisted in
falling to and settling in the neck G by the curves of the ogee and the division
wall A which so govern the direction of the current of sewage that a state
of quiescence is assured in the neck. Moreover solid matter in suspension
passing through the first division eventually comes to rest in a subsequent division.
of which there may be any suitable number in series, the downward impetus
after passing over a division wall B assisting the solid particles to settle in the
neck G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a precipitation tank, the combination of a compartment having a bottom
formed like an inverted bottle neck, the tiles J and a channel M connected to pipes
and controlled by a valve for discharging the sludge deposited in said compartment,
all substantially as herein set forth.
2. The construction, combination and general arrangement of parts as herein
described and illustrated consisting essentially of the walls A and B dividing
the precipitation tank into a series of compartments, and guiding the sewage
alternately up and down from the inlet to the outlet, the bottom of each compart-
ment being constructed in the form of an inverted bottle neck as shown on the
drawings and means for discharging the accumulated sludge.
3. The construction, combination and general arrangement of parts as herein
described and illustrated consisting essentially of the walls A and B dividing the
precipitation tank into a series of compartments, and guiding the sewage alternately
up and down from the inlet to the outlet, the bottom of each compartment being
constructed in the form of an inverted bottle neck as shown on the drawings and
having a channel covered by tiles substantially of the form and construction shown,
each channel being connected by an outlet pipe controlled by a valve to a delivery
pipe through which the sludge is discharged.
1007
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
17 St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicant.