Improvements in the Construction of Apparatus for Softening and Purifying Water.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Apparatus for Softening and
Purifying Water.
I RICHARD SYDNEY BROWNLOW of Canning Works Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Filter Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates chiefly to apparatus employed in the purification of water by
the addition thereto of chemical reagents which cause the precipitation in a solid or
floculent form of the imparities contained therein, but it is also applicable to the
purification of any water or fluid containing precipitable matter.
The object of my invention is to provide baffling plates which shall compel the Anid
to take a much more devious course than usual and shall present thereto a great
number of precipitating surfaces or inclines as hereafter described.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have annexed hereunto
two sheets of drawings, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following description.
Fig. 1. is a front elevation of an apparatus made according to my invention the
casing only being in section.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same (all but the lowest of the plates marked c
being removed and the casing being in section).
Fig. 3. is a sectional plan view.
Figs. 4 and 6 shew in vertical section and Figs. 5. 7 and 8 in plan view modifications
hereafter referred to.
I form a vertical chamber (preferably cylindrical) and 1 partially divide the same
by a vertical diaphragm or midfeather passing through or near the centre of the vessel,
or otherwise provide the chamber with a vertical central division.
On the drawings a is the cylindrical casing and bis the vertical division plate or
midfeather. On each side of this division plate b I fix a series of baffle plates c and c
sloping downwards, as shown at Fig. 1. and semi-elliptical in shape so as to entirely
cover the space between the plate or midfeather and the corresponding half of the
cylinder a (see also plan Fig. 3).
These plates c and d as well as being sloped downwards from the division bas
shown at Fig. 1. are also cut as shown at Fig. 2. so that the upper edges of the plates c
are all inclined in one direction parallel or nearly so, and those of the plates c¹ in the
contrary direction meeting or touching each other outside the division plate bat
alternate ends.
The very small triangular spaces c³ ³ c are filled in by bending over part of one or
both plates where they touch or by a small piece fixed to or forming part of the
partition, but the trapezoidal spaces c², c1, c2 are left open and these latter spaces
occurring alternately at either edge of the vertical division plate b. and at a gradually
rising level will cause the water admitted at to flow first to one side of the
division b and then to the other and to rise in so doing by a series of inclined lifts to
the outlet y (see Fig. 2). Or the inclines of the upper edges of the plates c,
be such that they cross each other exactly at the edge of the division in which case
no triangular spaces are formed, see diagram Fig. 1a.
may
I also place divisions or plates d at right angles to the plate or thereabouts, or I
otherwise prevent the fluid from passing straight from edge to edge of the said plate b
so that it must alternately rise and descend as it passes from one side to the other of
the partition & in the direction indicated by the arrows on Fig. 1.
The precipitated impurities collect in the pockets formed by the lowest portions
of the inclined shelves whence they can be drawn off or ejected through the taps e
into the pipes f.

page_text: The vessel a instead of being cylindrical may be of any other suitable shape, the
baffle plates being of course suitably formed.
The plates and c¹ instead of being inclined as shown at Fig. 2 and touching
the division in a straight line all along their inner edges may be made as shown
at Fig. 4. and Fig. 5. so as to meet each other at about right angles in horizontal
lines, each plate c meeting half the width of one of the plates cat es, on one
side of the centre of the cylinder a and half the width of that immediately above
it at c, on the other side of the said centre, the two halves being separated by
the plate as seen on the drawing so that the fluid passes upwards and down-
wards and round the outer edges of the plate as indicated by the arrows
gradually rising up in the vessel a as the ascending passages g are longer than the
descending ones g'.
In this case the plate d may be dispensed with if desired.
Figs. 6. 7. and 8 show how instead of circling round the plates and d the fluid
may be made to pass first on one side and then on the other side of a partition plate d
(either provided with or without vertical plates at about right angles thereto) by
making each inclined plate c meet its opposite plate c¹ at about right angles in a
horizontal line at the centre of the vessel as at c7, 7, Figs. 7. and 8.
In this case the partition d touches the wall of the vessel a at one edge and at
or near this point of junction spaces are cut away in the plates e alternately at
either side of the partition d as seen by the plan views of adjacent plates at Figs. 7.
and 8 so that the fluid takes a reversed course above each pair of plates c, c', the
water rising through the spaces i as shewn by the arrows on Figs. 6. 7. 8.
The taps e for the exit of the deposit are arranged on each side of the vessel as
shown.
In all these arrangements it will be seen that the fluid is made to rise through the
vessel a with an upward and downward, and at the same time either continuously
circulating or alternately reversed motion.
I am aware that inclined plates (parallel or otherwise) have been arranged in a
settling or precipitating chamber to cause the fluid to take an upward and downward
or serpentine course as it ascends and the fluid has also been caused to take a
continuously circulating upward motion.
I therefore make no claim to such arrangements but what 1 do claim is :-
The combination in a vertically placed vessel of plates or planes forming passages
sloping alternately upwards and downwards with vertical division or divisions so
arranged as to cause the fluid to rise through the vessel with an upward and down-
ward and at the same time either continuously circulating or an alternately reversed
motion substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1890.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.