IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLID FROM LIQUID MATTERS, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Heinrich Roeckner, of Newcastle on Tyne, in the
County of Northumberland, Paper Mill Engineer, for the Invention of
IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLID FROM LIQUID
MATTERS, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Heinrich Roeckner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th August 1879.
CARL HEINRICH ROECKNER, of Newcastle on Tyne, in the County of Northumber-
land, Paper Mill Engineer. "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING
SOLID FROM LIQUID MATTERS, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention consists, firstly, in the construction and use of compound leaf-like,
tree-like, shelf-like, or polypus-like collectors connected with a main discharge pipe,
channel, or passage for removing the liquids from the same. This arrangement com-.
prises what I shall hereinafter designate by the name of the polypus filter, by means
of which a very large draining or filtering surface is obtained in a small space.
The aforesaid collectors may be composed of perforated metal, wire-work, porous
brick or "biscuit" ware, cloth, paper, or any other porous material, or combination
of such materials, suitable or convenient for the particular purpose in view; and to.
increase the speed of the operation suction may be applied to the discharge pipe,
channel, or passage by means of a syphon, pump, steam-jet, or other known
appliance; or, if higher pressure be required, I force the matter to be operated upon
through the polypus filter by means of pumps or by the pressure of air or steam, or
by other suitable means. The said collectors may in the former case be contained
in an open topped tank or vessel, but in the latter case must be enclosed in a close
air tight vessel.
In some cases the aforesaid collectors may be made to rotate or otherwise to move
so as to facilitate the filtering action.
The polypus filter may be so arranged as to allow of the ready withdrawal from
time to time of the solid matters left on the collectors, it being merely necessary for
this purpose to remove or open a part of the containing vessel adapted for that
purpose, or to lift the polypus filter out of its casing, and the blocks or masses of
....Al

page_text: solid matter will either fall out or.may be otherwise easily removed from the surfaces
of the collectors.
Secondly. I prepare a porous material suitable for use in filters by mixing with
clay a suitable proportion of paper, pulp, or other vegetable or animal fibre; I then
mould the mixture into any desired form and burn it in the usual way, whereby
the fibrous matter is destroyed or carbonized, leaving the burnt clay in the required
form and porous condition. By this means such material may be made much thinner
than heretofore, is rendered less liable to crack when heated, and is applicable to
other purposes besides filters, such as, for example, for lining furnaces or for producing
thin earthenware.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Heinrich Roeckner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
February 1880.
CARL HEINRICH ROECKNER, of Newcastle on Tyne, in the County of Northumber-
land, Paper Mill Engineer. "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING
SOLID FROM LIQUID MATTERS, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention consists,―
Firstly. In the construction and use of compound leaf-like, tree-like, shelf-like,
or polypus-like collectors connected with a main discharge pipe, channel, or passage
for removing the liquids from the same. This arrangement, single or double acting,
comprises what I shall hereinafter designate by the name of the polypus filter, by
means of which a very large draining or filtering surface is obtained in a small
-space.
The aforesaid collectors may be composed of perforated metal, wire-work, porous
brick or
biscuit" ware, cloth, paper, or any other porous material, or combination
of such materials, suitable or convenient for the particular purpose in view, and to
increase the speed of the operation suction may be applied to the discharge pipe,
channel, or passage by means of a syphon, pump, steam-jet, or other known
appliance; or, if higher pressure be required, I force the matter to be operated upon
through the polypus filter by means of pumps or by the pressure of air or steam, or
by other suitable means. The said collectors may in the former case be contained
in an open topped tank or vessel, but in the latter case must be enclosed in a close
air-tight vessel.
The polypus filter may be so arranged as to allow of the ready withdrawal from
time to time of the solid matters left on the collectors, it being merely necessary for
this purpose to remove or open a part of the containing vessel adapted for that pur-
pose, or to lift the polypus filter out of its casing, and the blocks or masses of solid
matter will either fall out or may be otherwise easily removed from the surfaces of
the collectors.
.
In the Drawings similar letters of reference relate to like parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 shews a side view of my polypus filter adapted for use in an open

page_text: receiver R; Figure 14 shews an end view of same. The filter consists of any
required number of collectors C, C, fitted together at their suction or delivery points.
in such manner that where jointed together, in the manner shewn at Figure 1B, they
form a series of channels constituting a channel A, which in its turn communicates
with the main delivery channel or outlet D, which delivers the purified liquid
through a syphon Y. The substances accumulated in the receiver R are drawn off
by a tap or valve S, or otherwise removed when necessary. The collectors may be
extended so as to fill the whole receiver R as shewn, or only so many used as may
be required, care being taken in the latter case to close the end of the channel A in
the receiver. The collectors C may be constructed and arranged and adapted to fit
together in the manner shewn in Figure 1B, in which B, B, represents the perforated
metal, wirework, or other porous material forming the filtering substance E, a metal
casting forming on one side a socket E', and on the other side a spigot E, the latter
being in each case adapted to fit into the socket of the collector next in order, so
that when a number of these collectors are placed together in this manner their
castings form the channel A. The collectors may be fitted together in any other
convenient manner producing the same-result.
Figure 2 shews a similar polypus filter, the outlet D of which is placed at the
upper part. The collectors may be adapted to be lifted out of the receiver R for the
purpose of removing the substances collected on the surfaces of the collectors.
Figure 3 shews a polypus filter in a closed vessel or receiver V adapted for filtering
a continuous current. The collectors are so fitted together as to be easily drawn out
for cleaning or replacing the filtering material when the cover F is removed. G is
the tap or valve for admitting the current of liquid.
Figure 4 shews a plan of a double acting polypus filter in an open receiver (but a
closed one may be employed if preferred), and Figure 44 an end view of the same.
The collectors are so arranged, constructed, and fitted together as to be acted upon
from either side, the receiver R itself having two main discharge or outlet channels
D, D, acting alternately, so that when one side, say H, receives the matter to be
filtered its outlet through D will be closed, while the other side H having its outlet
through D open, delivers the filtered liquid, and as soon as the filtration becomes
sluggish the receiver R is empted and H is used as a receiver while H delivers the
filtered liquid.
Figures 5 and 54 shew the polypus filter in a closed vessel V suited to be acted
upon by pressure. This vessel is adapted to open at any convenient part, and with
fixed or moveable collectors, as may be necessary for the removal of the solid or
compressed matter formed in cakes or otherwise on the surfaces of such collectors.
The collectors may be made to work with one another or be adapted so as to turn
on the channel as on a hinge, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 5A, whereby the
cakes of solid substance are allowed to drop out, and the collectors being then put
back into their places the vessel V may be closed and recharged.
Figure 6 shews.how the collectors may be fitted one into the other in a closed
vessel V, so that when lowered down and withdrawn from the vessel V they may
be lifted one off the other and the cakes or compressed substances removed from
between them.
In some cases the aforesaid collectors may be made to rotate or otherwise to move
so as to facilitate the filtering action.
For the purpose of replacing the filtering and settling ponds, reservoirs, or tanks
usually employed in paper mills and other manufactories, establishments, or sewers,
or wherever a large quantity of liquid containing a comparatively small quantity of
solids is required to be filtered, I work two or more of my polypus filters together..
The matter to be filtered is first passed through one or more of the filters to be con-
densed or concentrated, and the condensed or concentrated liquid, as soon as sufficient
has accumulated, is then forced through another filter or through a press to dispose
of the solid matter, thus doing the work of the filtering and settling ponds, reservoirs,
or tanks. The liquid may be forced into the press in any convenient and suitable

page_text: way. A steam ejector may be used for exhausting from the outlet D of any of the
polypus filters.
For purifying large quantities of substances which quickly fill up the pores of the
filtering agent, I use paper in connection with cloth or other perforated material in such
manner that the paper only requires replacing, while the cloth or other perforated
material can be used over and over again as long as it will last, so that by replacing
the paper only the filtering agent remains active.
Secondly. I prepare a porous material suitable for use in some cases for filters by
making a kind of paper or millboard or other substance from paper, pulp, or other.
vegetable or animal fibre, combined with a sufficient quantity of clay, which when
burned or fired retains its original form, and a porous mineral substance is obtained
which has all the properties of a filter paper, and is indestructible by the chemicals
usually employed. This paper or millboard may be pressed into any convenient
form, and a very thin earthenware or china material obtained, which cannot, so far
as I am aware, be otherwise made from clay.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to, or may be, carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim as my Invention is,-
First. The construction of filters consisting of a series of collectors which spreading
polypus-like in one or various directions conduct the purified liquid collected by them
to outlets which are so connected together as to deliver the said purified liquid into
a main discharge, the whole comprising and being called the polypus filter, as
herein before described.
Second. The construction of filters with double or reversible action, as described.
Third. The treatment of liquid requiring to be filtered by using two or more
filters, combined or successively, for the purpose of first concentrating the said liquid,
and then separating the solids from the concentrated liquid by means of another
filter, such treatment being specially applicable to the separation of solids from the
liquid refuse of paper mills or other manufactories, establishments, or sewers where
such separation has been practically effected heretofore by what are called settling
or filtering ponds, receivers, or tanks only.
Fourth. The application and use of paper in combination with cloth or other
suitable perforated material, as herein before described, and for the purposes of the
treatment forming the subject of my third claim last above stated.
Fifth. The manufacture of a porous filtering substance forming a kind of paper or
millboard by mixing paper, pulp, or other vegetable or animal fibre with a sufficient
quantity of clay to enable the said substance, paper, or millboard to retain, after
burning or firing, the form given thereto before burning or firing, as herein before
-described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Heinrich Roeckner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
C. H. ROECKNER. (L.S.)