Improvements in Filtering Apparatus,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July. 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Filtering Apparatus,
We, CHARLES VALENTIN FERDINAND LUDWIG, Physician, of 1515, Chouteau
Avenue, St. Louis, and GUSTAV CRAMER, Manufacturer, of 3306, South 13th Street,
St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of our 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 the invention is to provide a new and improved filtering apparatus,
more especially designed for obtaining pure water from rivers, streams and other
sources of water supply the apparatus being arranged to filter the water directly
and return the sediment to the source of supply.
The invention consists of novel features and parts, and combinations of the
same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement;
Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the filter bed with parts in section; and
Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the same, on the line 3-3 in Figure 2.
The improved apparatus illustrated in the drawings, is more especially designed
for use in a river; and for this purpose an abutment A is arranged on the shore of
the river, and a second abutment A' is arranged parallel to the abutment A and
extends in the direction of the flow of the river, so that the water current can
readily pass between the two abutments. A filter B is immersed in the water
between the abutments and is hung on ropes, chains or like devices C, extending
upwardly and passing over pulleys C, journaled in suitable bearings in a frame-
work D carried by the abutments A, A¹. Counterweights C² are hung on the
ends of the ropes Ű, to counterbalance the filter B, so that the latter automatically
rises and falls with the water in the river, to be at all times immersed a desired
listance. The filter B is in the form of a box open at the top, and provided near
he lower ends of its sides as well as at the bottom B2 with apertures for the
vater to pass into an entrance chamber E, arranged in the lower end of the box.
The chamber E is guarded at the front end E by projecting this part in a
riangular form beyond the filter B, the triangular end extending into the current
o deflect refuse or other floating matter, at the same time permitting the current
o pass into the chamber with full force. A filter bed is arranged above the
ntrance chamber but not above the front end thereof, and this bed consists of
substantial frame or bottom F, having fenestrated openings or spaces into
hich are fitted semi-tubular, porous plates F¹ made of artificial stone, tripoli,
rick, tile or other similar material on the top of which is arranged one or more

page_text: strata of gravel, sand or like material G, above which is formed a reservoir H
into which the filtered water accumulates. Now it is evident that when the
filter B is immersed in the water the latter passes through the filter bed in an
upward direction into the reservoir H by the pressure of the water in the river,
that is, until the level of the filtered water in the reservoir H corresponds to the
level of the water in the river.
Now it is evident that by the arrangement described, the filter B is sufficiently
far immersed in the water in the river that the middle stratum of the water is
approximately at the entrance chamber E, so that the lighter polluting matter
which floats on the surface of the river water and the heavier substances
which move along the bed of the river are not liable to enter the filter. The water
passing into the entrance chamber E is thus comparatively pure and is perfectly
free of all impurities before passing into the reservoir H, as sediment is prevented
from passing into the said reservoir by, the bottom F and the filtering strata G.
In order to sterilize and purify the water in the reservoir H, we provide
opposite sides of the box B₁ with carbon plates I, I', connected by wires J, J¹
with a dynamo at a suitable distant station K, so that a current of electricity
passes through the water in the reservoir H, to sterilize and purify the same.
The filtered, sterilized and purified water flows from the upper portion of the
reservoir H through pipes L, into a flexible pipe L', connected with a pipe L³
arranged in the abutment A, and discharging in a cistern or other water collect-
ing vessel N, arranged on the shore, the vessel N being located sufficiently low
in the ground for the water to flow by its own gravity from the reservoir H to the
said cistern. A pipe connects the bottom of the cistern with the station K
containing pumps or the like, for pumping the water to a reservoir or directly
to city mains, for distribution.
In order to keep the bottom F as clean as possible from the rough sediment
liable to collect upon the under surface of said bottom F in the pores of said
bottom, we form the latter with longitudinally extending arches F, each con-
taining a brush P having its shaft 1 journaled in suitable bearings in the ends
of the box B. On the ends of each shaft P are secured propeller wheels 12
extending directly into the water current of the river, so that the propeller wheels
are turned, and consequently the brushes l' are rotated, to scrape off any sedi-
The sediment thus removed,
ment passing to the under surface of the arches F¹.
readily floats off or settles in the bottom of the river, and the bottom F is kept
comparatively free from impurities for a long time. When it is deemed necessary
to clean the filter B, the latter may be easily hoisted out of the water by increas-
ing the counterweights C or by pulling on the ropes C.
The filter bed composed of the bottom F and the strata G of sand, gravel and
the like, can be readily renewed whenever desired, and without incurring very
much expense.
We do not limit ourselves to the particular construction of the abutments
and the filter B as described, as it is evident the filter may be suspended between
twin boats or supported from docks or otherwise floated in the river, to rise and
fall with the water therein, for the purpose mentioned, or in the event of water
not having force of current sufficient to rotate propeller wheels, other mechanical
motive power may be applied for the purpose mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1) The revoluble brushes when arranged to engage and clean the arched sur-
faces of the filter.
2) The propellers arranged on the brush shafts to operate them.
3) The filter proper when provided with water inlets in its lower portion and
combined with or comprising, the following parts: a porous filter bottom above

page_text: The inlets; and loose filtering material on said bottom, and a collecting reservoir
above the filtering material, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of May 1899.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.