Improvements in Filters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SICCIFICATION.
Improvements in Filters.
I, WILLIAM MILLAR DEUTSCH, of 145 Broadway, New York City, United
States of America, Merchant, 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 present invention is alike applicable to that general class of filters in which
the cleansing or purifying of the liquid is effected by allowing the liquid to pass
or percolate through a body or mass of granular material, as to that more general
class in which is employed an arrangement of piping within the filtering vessel or
holder either for a conduit for the filtered liquid from the vessel or as a means
for cleansing the filtering material or in which the same piping is used for both
or for other purposes; the invention being also applicable to such filters whether
they be designed for filtering water in large quantities supplying for instance
factories, town or cities or for filtering water or other liquid in smaller quantities.
for special purposes and uses.
In this general class of filters the bottom or lower portion of the filter vessel or
holder is occupied by an arrangement of piping to draw or receive the filtered
liquid from the bed of filtering material and conduct it to the supply pipe or
main for use. This same arrangement of piping also provides an economical
method of cleansing the bed of filtering material by reversing the current of
liquid through the filter.
The present invention while embodying these important features of the old filter,
has for its object to increase the effectiveness of the filtering or cleansing, or bed
washing operation or both; to dispose and arrange the interior piping so that
the liquid is distributed evenly with equal pressure to all parts of the filter in the
cleansing operation; to provide a convenient mode of sustaining and bracing the
arrangement of piping against the weight of the bed of filtering material, and to
improve the general construction and arrangement of the filter. To these ends the
invention consists in combination with an orifice or conduit for the passage of the
liquid from or to the filter vessel, of means for dividing the area of the filter,
commion to the orifice or conduit, into a plurality of pockets or chambers; it also
consists in dividing the interior arrangement of piping into a number of independent
or separated operating surfaces by means of diaphragms or separating partitions
whereby definite portions of the piping are restricted to definite areas; it further-
more .consists in dividing the area of the filter into a plurality of pockets or
chambers formed by a number of vertical walls or partitions which provide supports
for the piping or its branches; and also in disposing the interior arrangement of
piping so that the area of the supply orifice for the cleansing operation will be
slightly greater than the total area of the distributing orifices of the interior
piping or of its branches whereby the pressure is equalized throughout said
branches.
With this general statement of the objects and purposes of the invention, a
detailed description of the same will now be given, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention.
In said drawings:-
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a filter provided with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same taken on the line 2, 2 the separating
partitions for the sake of perspecuity being omitted.
Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified arrangement of the interior piping and
branches, some of the separating partitions being shown in place.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the piping and partitions showing

page_text: the body of granular material within the space formed by the partitions and
surrounding the piping.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the piping illustrating the separating
partitions and the manner in which the partitions may be formed.
Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating different forms of the partitions, which
merely for convenience are assembled on the same piping.
Fig. 7 is a similar view of another form of the partition and support for the
piping.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the modified form of the piping and the
separating partitions.
•
Fig. 9 is a similar view illustrating another arrangement of the conduit and
connecting piping.
It is to be understood that while the improvements now to be described are
shown combined with a particular type of filter, they have been so shown as
a convenient means of illustrating their function and operation, as it will be
obvious many features of the invention are applicable to other types of apparatus.
The filter holder or vessel A, hereinafter termed the "filter" may be of any
of the well known forms, shown herein of closed cylindrical form made of sheet
metal and of any proper dimensions suited to the particular purposes for which it
may be used.
It is connected at or near its upper end with an induction pipe B
having a valve 20 by which the liquid from any source of supply enters the
filter; it is also connected near said upper end with a waste pipe C. having a
valve 21 through which the liquid used in washing the filter and filtering material
may be allowed to pass off to the sewer, settling basin or the like. The filter is
also connected at a point near its bottom with a pipe D having a valve 22,
employed during the filtering operation as an eduction pipe for conveying off the
filtered liquid to the distributing main, and at other times as an induction pipe for
a reverse operation of the filter as in the filter and filtering material washing
operation. The two pipes B and D are connected by a vertical pipe E having a
valve 23 therein, which pipe is also connected with a pipe F having a valve 24
therein, and leading into the filter at a point intermediate of its top and bottom
and slightly below the normal surface of the bed of filtering material G with
which the filter is partially filled, by which pipe F and its laterally extending
perforated branches the upper portion of the bed may be washed.
The pipe D through which the filtered liquid passes after being filtered, enters
the filter preferably at or near its bottom and is provided therein with a number of
branches d, suited to the area of the filter. In Fig. 2, the pipe D is shown
immediately connected with a continuous outer branch of hexagonal form extending
around the interior of the holder at a short distance from the wall, and with a
pair of direct branches d¹ connecting opposite portions of the continuous outer
branch d. These branches are formed of the ordinary piping united together by
the usual elbows, tees and other pipe unions, and when the holder is of considerable
size the branches will be assembled in two substantially equal portions which
when in position are united by couplings e. The proportion of the branches d
and d to the pipe D will be such that the supply of liquid will not be impeded.
Another form of this interior arrangement of piping is shown in Fig. 3, and it
is obvious other arrangements might equally well be used and yet obtain the
required service to all parts of the filter equally which is of particular advantage
in the washing operations.
The branches d, d', are provided with a number of smaller laterally extending
auxiliary branches which extend horizontally at or near the bottom of the filter,
and which collectively substantially embrace the entire horizontal area thereof.
By thus disposing the auxiliary branches as soon as the liquid being filtered
reaches substantially the lower portion of the bed of filtering material it will be
freely conducted outward by such branches, thereby causing the liquid to percolate
evenly through the entire bed of filtering material direct to some portion of the
conduit and thus preventing the formation of cross or lateral currents which cause

page_text: the filtering liquid to pass through the bed in defined courses to the exclusion of
other portions of the bed. This same important function of the auxiliary branches
in reaching the entire longitudinal area of the filter is also effective in thoroughly
washing the bed upon a reversal of the current. These auxiliary branches are
much smaller in diameter than the branches d, d', are secured .so as to project
centrally therefrom, and are perforated throughout their entire surface as well as
at their ends for the passage of the liquid to or from the branches. The size of
the perforations and their number in the entire structure will be such as to present
an area collectively slightly less than the area of the pipe D so that the filtered
liquid passing through the perforations will pass out freely by the pipe D. This
feature is also of great consequence in the practical operation of the filter, in that
as the arrangement of branches practically embraces the entire horizontal area of
the filter, any obstruction to the free passage of the filtered liquid would result in
causing lateral currents of the liquid through the bed of filtering material or
excess of flow through certain portions thereof which this practical covering of the
entire area of the filter is designed to prevent.
The area of the filter, in this case the horizontal area, immediately adjacent the
pipe D and particularly its branches is divided up into a number of pockets or
chambers Jr formed by separating partitions 10, see Figs. 1 and 4, which individualize
portions of the piping and ensure the complete action of each portion thereof
independent of the other portion, thus extending the effectiveness of the branches
throughout their entire area.
In one form of this part of the invention as shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, the
separating partitions are assembled in intimate relation with the auxiliary branches f,
dividing each branch into separate areas and thus in a measure dividing each
particular branch up into a series of separate or individual areas, restricting the
function of each separated portion of the branches and at the same time forming a
convenient means for confining certain portions of the bed of filtering material
around the piping.
In a former Specification, the auxiliary branches f, were surrounded by
considerably larger pipes and the space between them inside the larger pipe
was filled with a coarse granular material, such as fine gravel or pebbles, a
little larger than the perforations in each of the pipes. By the present inven-
tion the necessity for these enveloping pipes is obviated and the granular
material g coarser than the material of the filtering bed and slightly larger than
the perforations in the branches is placed in the pockets or chambers formed by the
separating partitions around and above the branches. The partitions thus serve in
addition to the function above stated to hold or confine this coarse material in
contact with the perforated branches and prevent it from being dislodged.
The separating partitions may obviously be modified widely in form and arrange-
ment and may partake of various shapes. Thus in Fig. 5, it is shown as made of
sheet metal bent so that adjacent portions extend at right angles to other portions
whereby each pocket is formed by three sides 1, 2, 1, of one partition and a side 2
of the contiguous similarly bent partition. The partition for each branch is
preferably formed of a continuous sheet of metal from end to end and the portions
forming the sides 1, are perforated to receive the perforated branch f, which as the
partition rests in practice on the base of the filter holder thus forms an effective
support for the branch both at or near its outer end and at intermediate points,
materially strengthening the arrangement of piping and aiding these slender
branches to withstand the weight of the filtering material and liquid above them,
which, owing to the weakening effect of the numerous perforations therein, is of
great importance in filters of considerable size.
In Fig. 6, there is shown several forms of the partitions associated with a single
branchOne form consists of a disc m, perforated centrally to allow the branch/
to pass therethrough. Another is a rectangular plate n, also perforated for the
branch f; and another o, of similar form with a foot or base piece p to rest on the
base or other part of the filter, and provided with a slotted opening r, to receive

page_text: the branch. This latter form has certain advantages over the other two forms in
that it may be placed in position resting upon its foot p in the filter independent of
the piping, its slotted opening ", permitting the branches to pass therein from the
top and rest at the bottom of the slot. Another form is also shown serving
principally to support, the auxiliary branch from the filter bottom. Yet another
form is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the branches f, rest upon a base of concrete or
similar material, and the partitions 10 extend upwards therefrom while embracing
the branches.
When the partitions 10 of the forms m, n, or o, are used those on contiguous
branches may overlap one another as indicated at Fig. 3, or they may extend in
right lines with one another with a separating partitions between them, as is also
indicated in said figure.
It is not essential to the proper carrying out of the invention that the perforated
auxiliary branches/should laterally extend from the discharge pipe or its branches,
but as shown in Fig. 8 they may extend vertically from the discharge pipe with
enlarged or funnel-shaped ends having perforated tops, and in this structure
the separating partitions will be similarly arranged to separate each auxiliary
branch from the others and to form pockets around each of them which may
contain a body of coarse granular material as before explained. And again, the
filter, as shown in Fig. 9, may be provided with a false bottom 12, providing a
bottom chamber D' in cominunication with and forming a part of the discharge
pipe or conduit D. From this false bottom 12, branches similar to those of
Fig. 8, will extend vertically secured therein in any suitable manner, and with them
will be associated the separating partitious 10, as before, forming pockets around
each of the branches to be filled with coarse granular material if desired.
No detailed description of the operation of the filter thus improved is
deemed necessary, but it may be briefly stated that in the operation of filtering,
the liquid from any source of supply will pass into the filter by the induction
pipe B its valve 20 being open, (the valves 21, 23 & 24 being. first closed and
the valve 22 of the discharge pipe opened). The liquid will percolate evenly
through all parts of the filtering bed G and finally reach the body of coarse
material y within the pockets formed by the partitions 10, and around the perforated
branches. It will then pass through this body of material g and by the perforations
into the branches evenly throughout the series of said branches, thence into the
branches d and d and into the discharge pipe to the place of use.
In the bed washing operation, the valve 20 will be closed and the valves 21 and 23
opened, the liquid will then pass from the pipe B by the vertical pipe E to the
pipe D and by the branches d, d' into the perforated branches, which by reason
of the arrangement of the branches d will supply the liquid at an equal pressure to
the entire body of perforated branches whereby the liquid in this washing operation
will be evenly distributed throughout the entire bed of filtering material, remove
all the impurities held thereby and pass out by the waste pipe C to the sewer, or
the like.
Should it be desired to obtain only a partial washing of the bed as for instance
its upper portion, which usually is the most foul, the valves 22 and 23 will be closed
and the valve 24 opened, whereupon the liquid will pass by the pipe F and its
perforated branches into the filter, and passing upward will evenly wash that
portion of the bed above said branches and pass out with the impurities by the
waste pipe C as before.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the filter and the filtering bed, of a conduit arranged
within the filter and connected with an external discharge or delivery pipe, a
plurality of perforated branches extending out of said conduit, and partitions
arranged across such perforated branches so as to form independent pockets,

page_text: chambers or enclosures around said branches, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. The combination with the filter and filtering bed of a number of branch pipes
leading to different parts of the filter bed, a plurality of smaller perforated pipes
extending laterally from the said branch pipes, and a plurality of partitions arranged
across the said perforated pipes, to subdivide the filter bed in proximity to each
such pipe into a number of separate independent pockets, chambers or enclosures,
and a body of coarse material located within the said pockets, chambers or
enclosures in contact with the said perforated pipes, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. The combination with the filter and the filtering bed, of a discharge pipe
therefor having perforated branches within the filter and a plurality of partitions
associated with said branches and forming supports therefor, substantially as
described.
4. The combination with the filter and the filtering bed, of a discharge pipe
therefor having a plurality of perforated branches within the filter, a plurality of
partitions associated with said branches and forming supports therefor, and a body
of coarse material located in the spaces formed by the partitions, substantially as
described.
5. The combination with the filter and its discharge pipe, of the continuous
branch pipe d, arranged within the filter and having perforated branches, and the
transverse connection d' also having perforated branches, the branch pipe and the
transverse connection being assembled in two separate substantially equal portions,
and couplings c, uniting the said separate portions of said pipes, the whole arranged
so as to cover a maximum of the horizontal area of the filtering bed, substantially
as described.
6. In a filter, the combination with a perforated branch pipe, of a partition sup-
porting the same and extending on both sides to divide the branch pipe into
separate areas, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a perforated branch pipe, of a continuous partition
supporting the same, and bent from side to side thereof alternately to divide the
branch pipe into separate areas, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of October 1892.
Dated bis 20th day of October 1892.
W. M. DEUTSCH,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.