IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF INTERCEPTING AND TREATING THE SOLID MATTERS SUSPENDED IN WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bannehr, of Bush Lane, in the City of London, for
"
an Invention of 'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF INTERCEPTING AND
TREATING THE SOLID MATTERS SUSPENDED IN WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS,
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bannehr at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1880.
JAMES BANNEHR, of Bush Lane, in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS OF INTERCEPTING AND TREATING THE SOLID MATTERS SUSPENDED
IN WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
My Invention relates to improvements in the means of and apparatus for
intercepting and treating the solid matters held in a state of suspension in water
and other liquids. In carrying out my Invention I employ a continuous trough or
channel of suitable form and material provided with inlet and outlet passages.
The inlet passage is slightly higher than the outlet, and through it the water or
other liquid flows into the trough or channel, and through a strainer placed at any
desired angle across the same. This strainer intercepts the solid matters held in
suspension in the water or other liquid, and the latter finally passes through the
outlet passage of the trough or channel in a comparatively pure state. To effect
the separation of the solid matters, and at the same time prevent the clogging by
the intercepted matter of the meshes of the strainer, I attach to one end of each of
two concentric axles, one of them being hollow so as to allow the other to work in
it, and mounted in suitable bearings on the outlet side of the strainer, two circular
discs placed near together at right angles to the plane of the strainer, one disc
being of larger diameter than the other. At their circumferences project from
their lower sides, at right angles thereto, triangular or other specially shaped prongs
or blades which extend downwards parallel with and in proximity to the strainer,
the prongs or blades of the larger disc being outside those of the smaller disc;
rotation being given in the reverse direction to the discs their respective prongs or
blades pass one another and operate on the fluid in the trough or channel in such
a manner that the flow of the water or other liquid through the strainer is
momentarily forced backward through the strainer, and the solid matters held in
[Price Bd1

page_text: suspension in the water or other liquid are repeatedly driven back from the inlet face
of the strainer until finally precipitated in the well or receptacle, hereafter named,
at the bottom of the trough or channel. The discs with their prongs or blades may
be driven by gearing, or otherwise, from a water wheel or turbine actuated by the
flow of the water or other liquid, or they may be driven by steam, wind, or any
other motive power. The said matters thus precipitated are collected into a well
or receptacle, from which they are pumped or removed by any suitable means, or,
when desired, may be drawn into a second separating vessel. The well is provided
with a cover which can be hermetically sealed during the operation of removing
the contents. In the centre, or other convenient part of the second separating vessel,
is arranged a conical strainer, round the interior of which revolve prongs or blades
similar to those already described. By this arranged the suspended matters
are again precipitated to the bottom of the second vessel, the fluid therefrom
flowing through the conical strainer in a comparatively pure state, which, filling
the conical chamber, passes away through an outlet pipe suitably arranged therein.
Provision is made for reducing the water space or capacity of this conical chamber
when so desired. The precipitated solid matters are discharged from this vessel
through a sluice trap or other device into a series of retorts (similar to those used
in gas making), where they are subjected to heat or dessicated; the resulting
ammonia passing therefrom with the steam generated is intercepted by a suitable
acid, whilst the solid matters remain in a dried state to be afterwards removed and
utilised as desired. My Invention is capable of various modifications of arrange-
ment suited to the different circumstances and locations in which it may be
applied. According to one arrangement, when applied to the purification of Thames
or other river water, the trough or channel may form portions of a barge or lighter,
a water wheel, or equivalent contrivance, being employed on the outlet side of the
strainer in order to produce a lower level thereat, and so induce a regular flow
through the strainer; this water wheel may be driven by the action of the tide, or
otherwise, as found most suitable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Bannehr in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th April
1881.
JAMES BANNEHR, of Bush Lane, in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS OF INTERCEPTING AND TREATING THE SOLID MATTERS SUSPENDED
IN WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
My Invention relates to improvements in the means of and apparatus for
intercepting and treating the solid matters held in a state of suspension in water
and other liquids.
On the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2.a sectional side
elevation of one form of iny Invention; Figures 3 and 4 are sectional elevation and
plan respectively of a modified form thereof, which may be used either alone or in
combination with the arrangement shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a continuous trough or channel a
(Figures 1 and 2) of suitable form and material provided with inlet and outlet
passages b and c. The inlet passage b is slightly higher than the outlet passage c,
and through it the water or other liquid flows into the trough or channel a, and
through a strainer d placed at any desired angle across the same. This strainer d
intercepts the solid matters held in suspension in the water or other liquid, and
the latter finally passes through the outlet passage c of the trough or channel a in
a comparatively pure state. To effect the separation of the solid matters, and at
the same time prevent the clogging by the intercepted matters of the meshes of
the strainer d, I attach to one end of each of two concentric axles e, f, (one of them e
being hollow so as to allow the other f to work in it), mounted in suitable
bearings g on the outlet side of the strainer d, a circular disc h, i, the two discs h, i,
being placed near each other at right angles to the plane of the strainer d, one
disch being of larger diameter than the other disc i. At their circumferences
project from their lower sides, at right angles thereto, triangular or other specially
shaped prongs or blades j, j', which extend downwards parallel with and in
proximity to the strainer d, the prongs or blades ; of the larger disc being outside
those of the smaller disc i. Rotation being given in the reverse direction to the
discs h, i, their respective prongs or blades ; and j¹ pass one another and operate on
the fluid in the trough or channel a in such a manner that the flow of the water or
other liquid through the strainer d is momentarily forced backward through the
strainer d, and the solid matters held in suspension in the water or other liquid
thereby repeatedly driven back from the inlet face of the strainer & until finally
precipitated into the well or receptacle, hereafter named, at the bottom of the
trough or channel a. The discs h, i, with their prongs or blades j, j³, may be driven
by gearing, as shewn (or otherwise), from a water wheel or turbine actuated by
the flow of the water or other liquid, or they may be driven by steam, wind, or
any other motive power.
The said matters thus precipitated are collected into a well or receptacle k, from
which they are pumped or removed by any suitable means. For this purpose the
well is provided with a cover l, which can be hermetically sealed during the
operation of removing the contents. This hermetical closing may consist of an
india rubber or other elastic tube surrounding its edge, such tube, when the cover
is closed for emptying the well k, being expanded by means of a head of water
flowing into it. For compensating the partial vacuum formed whilst emptying the
well a suitable pipe is provided through which air is admitted to the well by a
cock or valve. Or, when desired, the precipitated matters may be drawn into a
second separating vessel m (see Figures 3 and 4), in the centre or other convenient

page_text: part of which is arranged a conical strainer n, round the interior of which revolve
prongs or blades o, o, similar to those already described.
By this arrangement the suspended matters are precipitated to the bottom of the
second vessel m, the fluid therefrom flowing through the conical strainer n in a
comparatively pure state, which filling the conical chamber passes away through au
overflow outlet pipe p suitably arranged therein, and through a sluice trap or other
device (not shewn on the Drawing) into a series of retorts (similar to those used in
gas making), where they are subjected to heat or dessicated; the resulting ammonia
passing therefrom with the steam generated is intercepted by a suitable acid or
other agent, whilst the solid matters remain in a dried state to be afterwards
removed and utilised as desired.
My Invention is capable of various modifications of arrangement suited to the
different circumstances and locations in which it may be applied. According to
one arrangement, when applied to the purification of Thames or other river water,
the trough or channel a (Figures 1 and 2, or apparatus, Figures 3 and 4) may form
portions of a barge or lighter, a water wheel or its equivalent being employed on
the outlet side of the strainer in order to produce a lower level thereat, and so
induce a regular flow through the strainer, this water wheel being driven by the
action of the tide, or otherwise, as found most suitable.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I claim as my Invention is,—
Improvements in the means of and apparatus for intercepting and treating the
solid matters contained in water and other liquids, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Bannehr, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. BANNEHR. (L.S.)