IMPROVED SYSTEM OF "AN FILTRATION, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ceasar Gerson, Doctor, Med.-et-chir., in the City of
the Invention of
Hamburg, Gerinany, for
IMPROVED SYSTEM OF
"AN
FILTRATION, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH"
Sealed the 26th February 1878, and dated the 27th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ceasar Gerson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th August 1877.
CEASAR GERSON, Doctor, Med.-et-chir., in the City of Hamburg, Germany.
IMPROVED SYSTEM OF FILTRATION, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
"AN
This Invention relates, firstly, to a system of filtration of water, by forcing it
under pressure in an upward direction through layers of sponge and pure pumice-
stone, both of which have been previously impregnated with salts of iron, and then
in a downward direction through a mass of Swedish iron ore, layers of sand, and
shearing of wool impregnated with salts of iron. The sponge layer is retained in
position within a vessel between perforated or other open meshed plates, the upper
of which is temporarily immovable, while the lower has a rod attached, passing
through the upper plate to the outside of the vessel in which they are enclosed, where
the rod terminates in a handle for convenience of working the botton plate up and
down in the vessel, in order that a cleansing of the sponge by alternate expansion and
compression may take place when necessary by forcing water through the vessel in
the reverse direction, by which the putnicestone is washed out and cleaned at
saule time. The water in passing through this first filter vessel is clarified or
deprived of larger organic and mainly of inorganic particles with which it is
charged, and is in a state fit for washing, bathing, and other like domestic purposes,
also for factory use and the like. The water, if desired, for drinking or cooking
purposes is then forced through a second vessel, but in a downward direction, the
second vessel being furnished with a compact mass of Swedish iron ore, layers of
sand of different degrees of fineness, or in lieu thereof layers of powdered glass and
shearings of wool impregnated with salt of iron, also a quantity of powdered pumice
The water in passing downwards
instead of the pumice charcoal can be used.

page_text: through this compact mass is rendered bright and translucent, and is delivered in a
state fit for drinking from the lower part of the vessel.
The Invention relates, secondly, to adapting my high-pressure filtration system in
vessels filled with sponge and pumice, when prepared as described, in combination
with a filtration under low pressure in reservoirs, basons, tanks, or other receptacles
generally used by waterworks, and furnished with layers of Swedish iron ore, sand,
and pumicestone, a part of the latter being impregnated with salt of iron.
8.
The Invention relates, thirdly, to arranging a fixed perforated or meshed plate in
filtering vessel as an upper plate, and another similar plate as a moveable one
placed under the sponge, and attached to a rod by which an up-and-down move-
ment can be effected to permit of a cleansing operation of sponge and pumicestone
by a reverse flow of water.
The Invention relates, fourthly, to the employment of sponge and pumicestone
impregnated with salts of iron within filter vessels.
The Invention relates, fifthly, to the employment of Swedish iron ore in combi-
nation with layers of sand, powdered glass, or shearings of wool impregnated with
salts of iron, and pumicestone, also impregnated with salts of iron, these ingredients
being used in a compact mass in a vessel by which a perfect filtration of water can
be effected.
The Invention relates, sixthly, to portable apparatus for hand working or to be
mounted upon wheels for purposes of transport, by which the system can be made
useful in field or other military equipments, hospitals, and the like, or for stationary
positions, as found necessary.
In constructing a double filtration apparatus for domestic or other equivalent uses
I connect two cylindrical vessels by straps. One of these vessels is in connection
with a force pump, by which impure or dirty water can be raised and forced into
the first cylinder of the two, and in which the sponge and pumicestone impregnated
with salts of iron are arranged as before referred to. The upper part of this vessel
is connected by a pipe to the second vessel, in which the Swedish iron ore and other
ingredients before mentioned are "en masse," so that the water which has been
clarified by the upflow through the first vessel then passes by a downflow through
the ingredients within the second vessel in a pure, bright, translucent condition, fit
for use for drinking, or as desired.
By causing the water to pass through the first of the vessels only the water
will be found useful for ordinary cooking, for washing, and the minor domestic
uses.
For transportable machines mounted on wheels, the second filter vessel should be
suspended by india-rubber straps, or attached to the carriage frame in any other
suitable (elastic) manner to prevent this filter from being damaged by the shaking
of the carriage.
To ensure the closing of the iron ore and other ingredients well against the inside
of the vessel I purpose making the vessel in a very rough state upon the inside.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ceasar Gerson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th February
1878.
"AN
CEASAR GERSON, Doctor, Med.-et-chir., in the City of Hamburg, Germany.
IMPROVED SYSTEM OF FILTRATION, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
This Invention consists, firstly, of a system of filtration of water by first forcing it
under pressure in an upward direction through layers of sponge and pure pumice-
stone, both of which have been previously impregnated with insoluble salts of iron,
and then in a downward direction through a mass of Swedish iron ore, layers of sand,
and wool shearings impregnated with salts of iron. The sponge layer is retained in
position within a vessel between perforated or other open meshed plates, the upper
of which is temporarily immovable, while the lower has a rod attached, passing to
the outside of the vessel in which they are enclosed, where the rod terminates in a
handle, or is brought in connection with a hand lever for convenience of working
the bottom plate up and down in the vessel, in order that a cleansing of the sponge
by alternate expansion and compression may take place by forcing filtered water
through the vessel in the reverse direction, by which the pumicestone is washed
out and cleansed at the same time. The water in passing through this first filter
vessel is clarined or deprived of larger organic and mainly of inorganic particles with
which it is charged, and is in a state fit for washing, bathing, and other like
domestic purposes, also for factory use and the like; the filtration is very rapid,
The water, if desired for drinking or cooking purposes, is then forced through a
second vessel, but in a downward direction; the second vessel being furnished with
a compact mass of Swedish iron ore, layers of sand of different degrees of fineness,
or in lieu thereof layers of powdered glass and wool shearings impregnated with
salts of iron, also a quantity of powdered pumice instead of the pumice charcoal can
be used. The water in passing downward through this compact mass is rendered
bright and translucent, and is delivered from the lower part of the vessel in a state
fit for drinking, and deprived of organic productions of putrefaction.
The Invention consists, secondly, in adapting my high-pressure filtration system
in vessels filled with sponge and pumicestone prepared, as described, in combination
with a filtration under low pressure in reservoirs, basins, tanks, or other receptacles
generally used by waterworks, and furnished with layers of Swedish iron ore, sand,
and pumicestone, a part of the latter being impregnated with insoluble salts of iron,
and having a capacity of from fifty to eighty times the cubic quantity of water on
the square surface.
The interior surface of the vessel is made in a rough state, as will be herein-after
described.
My system of filtration can be applied to portable apparatus for hand working or
to be mounted upon wheels for purposes of transport, by which my Invention can
be made useful in field or other military equipments, military and other hospitals,
and the like, or for stationary positions, as found necessary. These constructions I
call filter pumps, and they may be arranged as follows, but the modifications are
numerous :-
In constructing a double filtration apparatus for domestic or other equivalent
uses I connect two cylindrical vessels to each other, or one vessel may be used
with a partition wall inside to divide it into two compartments or filter vessels.
One of these vessels, or one of the two compartments, is in connection with a force
pump, by which impure or dirty water can be raised and forced into the first
cylinder or compartment of the two, and in which the sponge and putnicestone
impregnated with insoluble salts of iron are arranged as before referred to. The
upper part of this vessel or compartment, connected by a pipe or pipes to the second
vessel or compartment in which are the Swedish iron ore and other ingredients
before mentioned are "eu inasse," so that the water which has been clarified by the

page_text: upflow through the first vessel or compartment then passes by a down flow through
the ingredients within the second vessel or compartment in a pure, bright, trans-
lucent condition, fit for use for drinking, or as desired.
By causing the water to pass through the first of the vessels or compartments
only the water will be found useful for ordinary cooking, for washing, and the
minor domestic uses.
For transportable filter pumps, mounted on wheels, the second filter vessel should
be suspended by india-rubber straps, or attached to the carriage frame in any other
suitable (elastic) manner, to prevent this filter from being damaged by the shaking
of the carriage.
To ensure the closing of the iron ore and other ingredients well against the inside
of the vessel, I purpose making the vessel in a very rough state upon the inside, and
also on the partition walls, in such a manner that the rough surface is formed of the
same or in size and construction, similar material as the filter material generally,
pumicestone of different size, sand, powdered glass, iron, impregnated wool, and
other suitable materials to prevent the filtering substances from getting loose from
the surface of the vessel, and to allow water to pass through.
With regard to the before-described filter pumps in the accompanying Drawings,
Sheet I. shows the construction of same mounted on wheels. A and B are the
two filter vessels furnished with the before-explained filter material. By means of
a double-acting force pump R the water passes from suction pipe a to the double
elbow pipe b, b¹, connected to the pressure pipe of the pump by a three-way cock c.
By means of this cock c the water can either enter the first filter vessel through both
pipes 6, 6', or through one or other. The water passes through filter A in direction
from below upward, and enters the second filter vessel through the double armed
connecting pipe f, d, which is furnished with a stop-cock g, as shown in the Drawing.
This second filter vessel is preferably divided by partition walls into a number of
compartments for the purpose of securing a greater friction surface for the filtering
inaterial. At top and bottom the different compartments are in connection through
openings in the partition walls. The filtered water flows off from the apparatus
through pipe e.
The first filter vessel A is divided into two compartiments by means of a vertical
partition wall, shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, for the purpose of temporarily
cleaning the filter in the following manner-Pipe 61 is shut off by turning the
three-way cock c; correspondingly cock g is shut, and tap o at the bottom of the
filter opened. The water of the pump now enters only one compartment of
filter A, passes through the same from bottom to top, and is forced into the second
compartment through pipe f. At same time the sponge is pressed out by the
action of lever h while the water flows off through tap o. In this manner the one
The second compartment is
compartment is thoroughly cleaned by filtered water."
cleaned in a similar manner by shutting off pipe b by means of cock c, by then
opening tap p, and by application of lever i for the pressing out of the sponge of the
second compartment.
Sheet II. shows one construction of my portable filter pump. Both filter
vessels A and B are placed in the room of a metal cylinder, divided from each other
by a partition wall. The second filter vessel B may again be divided by one or
more walls b, open at top and bottom in a manner as described with the filter pump
mounted on wheels. By the action of a force pump C the water is forced into the
pipe d of filter A. Pipe d and filter A are divided by a three-way cock e. During
the process of filtration the water passes through cock e and enters filter A at f.
The water then passes through filter A from bottom to top, passes through opening o
of the partition wall a into the second filter vessel B, and the filtered water flows
off through tap h. For cleaning filter A the opening o of partition wall a is closed
by means of a sliding shutter moved by rod l, cock c is turned to close the communi-
cation between pipe fand filter A, and the water is forced to enter filter A through
the upright tube k and opening n. The pressing out of the sponge is effected by
means of lever p and connecting rod m, the lever having its fulcrum at v. By

page_text: lifting rod m the pressure rod is moved upward and the sponge is compressed.
The impure water flows off through tap 8. For the lifting of rod m, the end of
same t, may be brought in connection with the lever of the pump x, but this
motion may also be executed in any other convenient manner.
The filter vessels are preferably constructed of cylindrical shape, but any other
convenient form may be applied.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish to have it understood that I do not claim some
of the mechanical arrangements, nor do I confine myslf to the details and different
modifications given, but what I claim as my Invention is,-
First. The system of filtration of water under high pressure in two different
filter vessels or basins, by separating the mechanical filtration of suspended matters
from the zoo chemical filtration, to retain the production of putrefaction and organic
substances in the manner described, and substantially as shown in the Drawings.
•
Secondly. The system of filtration of water under high and low pressure, com-
bined, that is to say, the fore filtration under high pressure and the filtration
through the second filter vessel, tank, or basin under low pressure, and with the
application of the filtering material, as herein-before described.
Thirdly. The method of cleaning the first filter vessel by means of counter
currents of filtered water, at same time pressing out the sponge filling, as described.
Fourthly. The application of sponge and pumicestone impregnated with in-
soluble salts of iron and Swedish iron ore as filtering material, in the manner
described.
Fifthly. The application of my system of filtration with filtering apparatus,
portable or mounted on wheels, as described, and substantially as shewn in the
accompanying Sheets of Drawings.
Sixthly. The rough surfaces of the inner of my second filter vessel, and of the
partition walls to ensure the closing of the filtering materials with the former, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ceasar Gerson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
CEASAR GERSON. (L.S.)
Dr. of Med. & Chirg.