AN IMPROVED FILTER PRESS OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Simpson and Edward William Parnell of Liverpool
in the County of Lancaster Manufacturing Chemists for an Invention of AN
IMPROVED FILTER PRESS OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM
SOLIDS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Simpson and Edward
William Parnell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th
June 1882.
JAMES SIMPSON and EDWARD WILLIAM PARNELL of Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster. Manufacturing Chemists. "AN IMPROVED FILTER PRESS OR APPARATUS
FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS
"
The object of our invention is to provide a convenient simple and durable filter
press apparatus or separater adapted for many purposes in the arts and specially
suitable for use in chemical and manufacturing operations such as in the filtration
of caustic mud produced in the manufacture of borax, mud produced in the
manufacture of soda ash by the ammonia process, in extracting moisture from
spent hops in brewing and in other operations where it is desired to separate
liquids or soluble matter from solid insoluble or not easily soluble substances.
Apparatus under our invention consists essentially. First. In a chamber or vessel.
provided with suitable inlet or outlet ways passages or openings and with a
movable bottom carrying a filter bed. The filter bed is preferably formed of a
metallic perforated plate provided with a filtering covering or surface of wire
gauze, asbestos cloth or other material unacted upon by the substances being
filtered.
Second. In providing the chamber or vessel before mentioned in the first part
with a scraper or stirrer receiving motion through a shaft or spindle passing
through a stuffing box. More than one scraper or stirrer may be used.
Third. In providing hydraulic screw or other suitable means for raising and

page_text: lowering the movable bottom when required. One ram or plunger is used by
preference to bring the pressure appliances to the position for energetic action.
Fourth. In fitting the apparatus with tilting, tipping, pushing or equivalent gear
for removing the filtered residue from the movable bottom after each operation.
The substances to be filtered are run or passed into the chamber or vessel and
suitable water steam air or other fluid is passed downwards therethrough. The
liquid or solution is carried off by a pipe or way to any convenient receptacle.
After filtration the movable bottom is lowered bringing with it the solid residue
which residue is pushed or tipped into a wagon or truck, or is otherwise disposed
of. The movable bottom is then raised into its place by hydraulic power or other
means and the filter is again ready for use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Simpson and Edward William Parnell in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 15th December 1882.
JAMES SIMPSON and EDWARD WILLIAM PARNELL of Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Manufacturing Chemists "AN IMPROVED FILTER PRESS OR APPARATUS
FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS
"
The object of our invention is to provide a convenient simple and durable filter
press apparatus or separator adapted for many purposes in the arts and specially
suitable for use in chemical and manufacturing operations such as in the manu-
facture of soda ash, borax common salt and salts generally and where it is desired
to separate liquids or soluble matter from solid, insoluble or not easily soluble
substances.
Apparatus under our invention consists essentially, First. In a chamber or
vessel provided with suitable inlet or outlet ways passages or openings and with a
movable bottom carrying a filter bed. The filter bed is preferably formed of a
metallic perforated plate provided with a filtering covering or surface of wire
gauze asbestos cloth or other material unacted upon by the substances being
filtered.
Second. In providing the chamber or vessel before mentioned in the first part
with a scraper or stirrer receiving motion through a shaft or spindle passing
through a stuffing box. More than one scraper or stirrer may be used.
Third. In providing hydraulic screw or other suitable means for raising and
lowering the movable bottom when required. One ram or plunger is used by
preference to bring the filter bed to the position for conducting the operation.
Fourth. In fitting the apparatus with tilting tipping pushing or equivalent gear
for removing the filtered residue from the movable bottom after each operation.
Figs 1 and 2 are vertical sections at right angles to each other and fig 3 &
horizontal section at the line A A of our improved filter press or apparatus for
separating liquids from solids.
First part. a is a cast iron chamber or vessel provided with an inlet way b closed
by a valve c operated by a lever d, e outlet way or passage, f movable bottom
carrying the filter bed g. The said filter bed consists of a perforated malleable iron
plate covered with wire gauze asbestos cloth or other material not acted upon by
the substances filtered.
Second part. h is a scraper or stirrer secured to the shaft or spindle i and
receiving motion therefrom. The shaft or spindle i passes through a stuffing box j
on the valve c and receives motion from the bevel wheel k. The shaft or spindle i
is connected to the wheel k by a key and slot so that it turns with the said wheel
but is free to slide or be moved to and fro therethrough. The scraper h
may
therefore be made to act as required on the material being treated by sliding the
shaft to and fro through the said wheel. The sliding motion is given to the said
shaft i by means of a lever or in any other convenient manner. The wheek k is
driven by steam hydraulic hand or other power.
Third part. is a hydraulic cylinder situated centrally beneath the movable
bottom fm is a ram working in the cylinder and connected to the movable
bottom, so that the said movable bottom may be raised and lowered when
required. n standards connecting the chamber a to the frame of the hydraulic

page_text: cylinder . The outlet way or passage pipe e also serves as a connection between
a and l. It will be obvious that screw or other suitable raising or lowering
apparatus may be used instead of the hydraulic cylinder and ram.
Fourth part. The movable bottom f is connected to the head o of the ram m by
means of the trunnions and bearings p. The standards n serve as guides to the
ram head o and prevent its turning, they also ensure that the movable bottom fis
in proper position when raised.
The improved filter press or apparatus is used as follows:-The substance from
which liquid is to be separated is filled into the chamber a through the valve c so
as to rest on the filter bed g; when the chamber a contains sufficient of the
substance to be filtered the valve c is closed and steam air or other vapour gas or
fluid is passed down therethrough. The said steam air vapour gas or other fluid is
admitted in to the top of the chamber through one or more cocks or valves not
shown on the drawings as the situation of the said cocks or valves may be con-
siderably varied; a suitable place therefor being on the annular part marked q. The
passage of the steam air or other fluid through the substance being filtered is
obtained by pressure above that of the atmosphere or if preferred by connecting
the outlet way or passage pipe e to exhausting apparatus, or both pressure and
vacuum may be employed together. During the passage of the steam air or other
fluid through the substance being filtered the stirrer or agitator h is kept in motion
so as to prevent the formation of cracks or crevices which would allow of the
steam air or fluid passing freely to the exhaust way or passage without doing
work. The liquid contained in the substance or passed through it flows through
the filter bed g and is carried off by the way or passage 6. When the filtration is
completed the movable bottom fis lowered bringing with it the filtered block: when
the said bottom has been sufficiently lowered the said bottom is tilted on its
trunnions p and the block allowed to slide into any convenient receptacle. The
bottom is then raised into position and the filter is again ready for action.
Having now described and illustrated the said invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry our improvements into effect, we claim :-
The filter press or apparatus consisting of parts combined and arranged to operate
substantially as herein setforth.
In Witness Whereof I the said James Simpson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this thirteenth day of December in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.