Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering Feed-water for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering Feed-water for Steam
Boilers.
We, JOHN WOTHERSPOON, of Rossbank, Forest Hill, Kent, Engineer, and JAMES
DAVIE, of Albert Drive, Crosshill, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineer, 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 :—
This invention relates to filtering apparatus for purifying feed-water for marine
and other steam boilers, and particularly to that class of such apparatus wherein the
filtering material is located within a chamber and between a stationary place and an
opposing adjustable plate by which it can, from time to time, be cleansed by being
compressed so as to cause the matter arrested by it to exude therefrom into a
sediment chamber; the object of the invention being to obtain a largely increased or
multiple filtering area within the one filter body, as hereinafter described, and, to
this end, the invention consists in the combination of parts hereinafter more
particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and
particularized in the claims.
On the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1, represents a longitudinal sectional elevation on the line A-B, Fig. 2, and
is partly in elevation, and Figs. 2, and 3, represent transverse sectional elevations,
respectively on the lines C-D, and E-F, Fig. 1.
1, represents the main body of the filter which is parallel sided and may be of a
square shape in cross section, as represented, or of a circular or other suitable shape.
It is formed with an inlet chamber 2, having an inlet 3, a depending sediment
collector 4, and a blow-off valve 5, and with an outlet chamber 6, having an qutlet 7,
a depending sediment collector 8, and a blow-off valve 9. One of its ends is fitted
with a removable cover 10, serving to close an opening 11, through which the
improved filtering device hereinafter described, together with the opposing stationary
and adjustable plates 12, and 13, between which it is arranged, can be placed in and
withdrawn from the filter body, and also to support the screw-threaded spindle 14, by
which the compression of the filtering media is effected for the purpose of locating it
or of compressing the same to cleanse it from absorbed matter. The plate 12, is
located at the junction of the chambers 2, and 6, its periphery being packed or
otherwise made water-tight, as at 12*, with the periphery of the filter body, and may
be held in position by screws 15, or by abutting against an inner extension 16, of
the cover 10, as represented by dotted lines, or in any other convenient manner.
The plate 13, is bolted to the spindle 14, and can be adjusted from or towards the
plate 12, by turning the spindle wheel 17, and a sufficient clearance is left between its
periphery and that of the filter body to allow of the water entering the inlet 3,
circulating freely between the plate and surrounding filter body and obtaining ready
access externally to the improved filtering device at the various inlets thereto.
In the improved filtering device, a series of any required number of pairs of
perforated diaphragms a, constituting so many separate inlets to the water to be
filtered, are combined telescopically with an equal number of perforated diaphragms b,
constituting so many separate outlets to the filtered water, and with filtering media c,
interposed between each pair of diaphragms a, b, and with flexible shields d, arranged
within the inner periphery of the filtering media c, and between each pair of
diaphragms a, b, and with springs e, arranged within the shields, tending to distend
and support the latter in the desired relation to the media c, and between each pair of
diaphragms a, b, tending to separate the same and to keep the adjacent diaphragms b,
in contact at their outer peripheries.

page_text: The inlet diaphragms a, of each opposite pair thereof are spaced apart and are open
around their outer periphery to the inlet of water to be filtered, and are closed around
their inner periphery, as at a¹, so as to cause all the water entering 'there between to
pass laterally through the perforations a², to the filtering media c.
The outlet diaphragms b, of each adjacent pair thereof, are also spaced apart and are
closed around their outer periphery, as at 61, and are open around their inner periphery.
so as to centrally discharge the filtered water, passing from the filtering media c,
through the perforations 62, to between the diaphragms b.
The diaphragms a, are formed with central annular bosses a³, and the diaphragms b,
are formed with central annular bosses b³, and these bosses are telescopically arranged
and constitute a central outlet f, into which the filtered water passes from, between
the diaphragms b.
The adjustable plate 13, is flanged at its outer periphery as at 13, against which
the adjacent diaphragm b, abuts so as to space it apart from the plate. The stationary
plate 12, may also be similarly flanged and adapted to support, spaced apart
therefrom, an adjacent diaphragm b, or, as represented, it may be perforated, as at 12ª,
and adapted to serve as the equivalent of a diaphragm b. The plate 12, is also
formed with a central boss 63, serving as a continuation of the channel f.
Around the telescoping bosses a³, 63, and between each pair of diaphragms a, b, is
arranged one of said springs e, and its surrounding flexible shield d, which may
consist of canvas or other suitable material.
!
The filtering medium interposed between each pair of diaphragms a, b, is. divided
by porous or perforated diaphragms g, into sections of media best suited to eliminate
the peculiar impurities that may exist in the water to be purified, the first section
preferably consisting of materials suitable for arresting greasy matters, the second
of materials suitable for arresting the heavy or larger impurities, and the third of
materials suitable for arresting the more minute particles.
The filter body may, if required, be fitted with a steam valve for cleansing
purposes, and with inlet and outlet valves, a bye-pass valve, safety valve, pressure
gauge and air extractor to suit requirements.
By the described combination, we considerably increase the filtering area and
obtain a much more efficient action with a less liability of the filtering media
becoming surcharged with arrested matter and rendered inoperative, thus maintaining
its working capabilities for a longer period.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
In feed-water filtering apparatus, in combination, a filter body having inlet and
outlet chambers and depending sediment collectors and an end opening 11, adapted
with a removable cover, an adjusting screw 14, a fixed plate 12, and adjustable
plate 13, and a filtering device composed of series of pairs of perforated inlet
diaphragms a, spaced apart, closed at their inner periphery, and formed with central
annular bosses a³, perforated outlet diaphragms b, spaced apart, closed at their
outer periphery and formed with central, bosses, 63, the bosses a³, 63, being tele-
scopically arranged and constituting a central. outlet, filtering media c, and
separating diaphragms g, interposed between each pair of diaphragms a, b, and
flexible shields d, arranged within the inner periphery of the media c, and springs e,
arranged within the shields, the whole adapted to co-operate as set forth.
Dated this 11th dow of M... 1907
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants..