Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Filters.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Filters.
We, THOMAS WALTER HARROPP GARSTANG, of Knutsford, Surgeon, JoHN
McDONALD MCKENZIE, of Peel Causeway, in the Township of Hale, Surveyor, and
GEORGE EDWARD RIDGWAY, of Ashley, Engineer, all in the County of Chester, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for receiving either by a constant
or intermittent flow or supply, the effluent from any kind of sewage tank or sewage works
or the like, or the waste liquors from any kind of manufacturing process or the
like, or water from any natural or artificial source whatever, requiring filtration,
and for intermittently and automatically feeding or discharging the same onto the
surface of a series of filters in certain definite quantities and in regular sequence,
whereby a great economy in labor is effected, and a more perfect action of the
filters is secured.
"
The first part of the apparatus consists of a chamber of definite capacity (which
we call the siphoning chamber") into which the effluent, waste liquor, or water is
allowed to flow, and from which it is automatically discharged by means of a
siphon (or other equivalent apparatus) as soon as it reaches a certain fixed level.
The intervals between each discharge will of course depend upon the rate of
flow of the said effluent, waste liquor, or water into the " siphoning chamber,"
but the amount of each discharge will be constant; we prefer to make the
siphoning chamber" of such an area with regard to the size of each filter bed
that each discharge of its cubical contents will feed oue filter to a depth of a few
inches only. The number and area of the filter beds and the size of the siphoning
chamber will of course have to be regulated according to the circumstances of
each particular case, but they should in all cases be so calculated and arranged
that as the filters are fed seriatim or in rotation, each particular filter shall have
ample time to empty itself and become aerated, before it comes round again to its
turn to be refilled, and we prefer so to arrange the filter beds that one or more
can at any time be thrown out of the series for cleaning without interfering with
the regular working of the remainder.
The discharge from the " siphoning chamber" in its passage to the filters
actuates an overshot wheel which is fixed upon a shaft working in a trough which
we call the "distributing channel." This shaft runs parallel to the length of the
trongh, and the wheel is fitted with a number of buckets corresponding with the
number of filters (say eight for example) each bucket being of such a capacity as
to receive so much as may be found sufficient of one discharge from the "siphon-
ing chamber." The wheel is (as hereinafter explained) so arranged that it makes
(say) one eighth of a revolution at a time and the bottoms of the buckets are so
formed that each bucket will have discharged its contents as soon as it has reached
this point. This shaft is provided with eight arms projecting at right angles to
its axis, which as the shaft revolves raise in succession each of the eight valves
admitting to the different filters.
of
The
A
siphoning chamber" also contains a ball or other float fixed at the end
lever the other end of which actuates a regulator or check action by

page_text: which the distance through which the wheel travels at each movement (in this
case one eighth of a revolution) is accurately determined.
The wheel is set out in sections and the lever, actuated by the float at each
discharge alternately raises and depresses a vertical bar or rod which alternately
holds and releases each section in its turn.
The space travelled by the wheel (i.e. the portion of a revolution) at each
discharge of the siphon is such that the last opened valve is released and closes
by its own weight, whilst the next arm on the shaft engages and raises the next
valve.
The series of arms and their corresponding valves are arranged to agree with
the number of filters in use, each valve giving admission to one filter.
The arms
are preferably fixed to the shaft in such a manner that they can be disconnected
and changed to any desired position so as to afford facilty for arranging a series
of filters in any order or to operate a portion only at a time as may be desired.
Each valve consists preferably of a metal plate accurately covering an opening
or seating which leads from the " distributing channel" in which the shaft works,
to one of the filters. Each valve is fitted with a projection which is caught by
the revolving arm and carried to a position which holds the valve fully open, the
valve being fixed at such an angle as will allow it to close automatically by its
own weight when released by the revolving arm. Other forms of valve, actuated
seriatim in a similar manner may be used if preferred, for the automatic discharge
of the sewage or fluid from the distributing channel" into the various filters in
succession.
i
WO, THOMAS WALTER HARROPP GARSTANG, of Knutsford, Surgeon, JOHN MCDONALD
MCKENZIE, of Peel Causeway, in the Township of Hale, Surveyor, and GEORGE
EDWARD RIDGWAY, of Ashley, Engineer, all in the County of Chester, 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 to improvements in apparatus for receiving either by a
constant or intermittent flow or supply, the effluent from any kind of sewage tank
or sewage works or the like, or the waste liquors from auy kind of manufacturing
process or the like, or water from any natural or artificial source whatever,
requiring filtration, and for intermittently and automatically feeding or discharging
the same onto the surface of a series of filters in certain definite quantities and in
regular sequence, whereby a great economy in labor is effected, and a more perfect
action of the filters is secured.
The first part of the apparatus consists of a chamber of definite capacity (which
we call the "siphoning chamber") into which the effluent, waste liquor, or water
is allowed to flow, and from which it is automatically discharged by means of a
siphon (or other equivalent apparatus) as soon as it reaches a certain fixed
level.
"
The intervals between each discharge will of course depend upon the rate of
flow of the said effluent, waste liquor, or water into the "siphoning chamber," but
the amount of each discharge will be constant; we prefer to make the "siphoning
chamber" of such an area with regard to the size of each filter bed that each

page_text: discharge of its cubical contents will feed one filter to a depth of a few inches only.
The number and area of the filter beds and the size of the siphoning chamber will
of course have to be regulated according to the circumstances of each particular
case, but they should in all cases be so calculated and arranged that as the filters
are fed seriatim or in rotation, each particular filter shall have ample time to empty
itself and become aerated, before it comes round again to its turn to be refilled,
and we prefer so to arrange the filter beds that one or more can at any time be
thrown out of the series for cleaning without interfering with the regular working
of the remainder.
"
The discharge from the siphoning chamber" in its passage to the filters
actuates an overshot or undershot wheel or equivalent device which is fixed upon a
shaft working in a trough which we call the "distributing channel." This shaft runs
parallel to the length of the trough, and the wheel is fitted with a number of
buckets corresponding with the number of filters (say eight for example) each
bucket being of such a capacity as to receive so much as may be found sufficient
of one discharge from the "siphoning chamber." The wheel is (as hereinafter
explained) so arranged that it makes (say) one eighth of a revolution at a time
and the bottom of the buckets are so formed that each bucket will have discharged
its contents as soon as it has reached this point. This shaft is provided with eight
arms projecting at right angles to its axis, which as the shaft revolves raise in
succession each of the eight valves admitting to the different filters. Or instead
of an undershot or overshot wheel, a disc or equivalent device fixed on the
aforesaid shaft may be actuated by a balanced lever carrying a bucket or the like
at one end, or by other equivalent means.
In order that this invention may be readily understood we have annexed the
accompanying three sheets of drawings hereafter referred to in our specification.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a plan of a complete apparatus
constructed according to our invention. Figs. 3, 3, 4 and 4^, are transverse
sections, Figs. 3 and 34, being taken through the distributing channel at almost
the lines XX and X'X' respectively, and Figs. 4 and 4*, through Y Y on Fig. 1.
Figs. 48, 40, 40, 4, are diagrams illustrating the locking device hereafter described.
Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification hereafter more particularly referred to.
A is the siphoning chamber with siphon of suitable knowu construction at a and
outlet at a¹ delivering the contents of the siphoning chamber A into the distributing
channel or space B, as much of the fluid from a¹ as may be found sufficient to
actuate the mechanism falling first into one of the buckets c of the water wheel C
so as to cause the wheel C to make a part of a revolution as hereafter described
and actuate the shaft d on which it is fixed and on which are also fixed the
arms d¹ to for opening the valves e¹ to e as hereafter explained. These arms
are preferably provided with antifriction bowls (as shewn) working against the
projections on the valves hereafter described.
The "siphoning chamber" A also contains a ball or other float a fixed at the end
of a lever a³, the other end of which actuates a regulator or check action by which
the distance through which the wheel travels at each movement (in this case one
eighth of a revolution) is accurately determined.
The wheel C is set out in sections by the pegs or bowls c¹ or their equivalent,
and the lever a³ actuated by the float a² at each discharge alternately raises and
depresses a vertical bar or rod f which alternately holds and releases each section
in its turn, by means of the projections ff on the rod or bar f.
The wheel is free to move forwards in the first instance the upper central
projection c¹ being just beyond the projection f the wheel C moving (when turned)
in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 4B).
When the water turns the wheel the next projection (marked c¹) behind will
come in contact with 2 (see Fig. 4C) and stop the motion of C, and the bucket
which has been filled will be emptied owing to its formation. As the level of the
fluid in the siphoning chamber A falls the bar f will be raised (past the position
shewn at Fig. 4º) by the lever a³ until it moves out of the way of the

page_text: projection cand at the same time raises into the path of the projection
diametrically opposite to cl
This will then bring the wheel into the position (shewn at Figs. 4 and 4) ready
for starting again, and the rise of level of the fluid in the siphoning chamber A as the
latter is filled again will cause the bar f to be lowered again and past the position
seen at Fig. 4, to bring f¹ below the upper stop c', and f facing the lower one c¹º
(as first set) ready for the next Hush to act on the wheel Cagaiu (see Fig. 4).
The space travelled by the wheel C (.e. the portion of a revolution) at each
discharge of the siphon is such that the last opened valve is released and closes
by its own weight, whilst the next arm on the shaft engages and raises the next
valve, one valve being therefore always open.
On the drawing the arms are so arranged as to open first a valve at one side of
the space or distributing channel B and then a valve on the other side thereof and
we have lettered the first arm opening the valve e¹, the next arm opening the
valve e and so on, so that opens the valve e³.
The series of arms &c. and their corresponding valves e¹ e are arranged to
agree with the number of filters in use (the drawing shewn eight valves) each valve
giving admission to one filter, not shewn on the drawing.
The arms are preferably fixed to the shaft in such a manner that they can bo
disconnected and changed to any desired position so as to afford facility for
arranging the arms to feed a series of filters in any order, or to operate a portion
only at a time as may be desired.
Each valve ele &c. consists preferably of a metal plate accurately covering an
opening or seating of a passage g¹² &c. which leads from the "distributing
channel" B in which the shaft works, to one of the filters. Each valve is fitted
with a projection h¹ &c. which is caught by its respective arm at the commence-
ment of its appointed flush from the siphoning chamber A and carried to a position
(see dotted position Fig. 3) which holds the valve fully open, the valve being fixed
at such an angle as will allow it to close automatically by its own weight when
released by the revolving arm at the next flush from the chamber A. Other forms
of valve, actuated seriatim in a similar manner may be used if preferred, for the
automatic discharge of the sewage or fluid from the "distributing channel
into
the various filters in succession.
"
Figs. 5 and show how a single bucket c can (as before stated) be employed
instead of a series of buckets c in the form of a water wheel. In this case the
bucket is pivotted at a to a lever i mounted loose on the shaft and so balanced
that when the bucket ex is empty or nearly so the lever i is raised as shown, but,
when the siphon discharges and the rush of water falls on the bucket, it will carry
round the wheel C₁ by the bowls exx thereon, upon one of which the raised
bucket crests, until stopped by the checking device above described, the other
face of the disc or wheel carrying projections c¹ equivalent to the projections c¹
above described.
The bucket will then empty itself and be raised again by the lever i, the
bucket turning on its pivot so as to come into position above the next bowl cxx
and so on.
It will be evident without illustration that in cases where but little fall can be
obtained between the siphon chamber A and the distributing channel or space B
the lever i could hang with the bucket below the shaft d.
The bucket would then be somewhat in the form of a basin set on edge and
forced outwards by the first rush of the sewage through the outlet from A and
inlet to B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The combination with a siphoning chamber having means for intermittent
automatic discharge therefrom of a distributing channel or space provided with a

page_text: series of valves each communicating with one of a scries of filters and mechanism
for automatically opening one valve each time the siphoning chamber discharges its
contents, one valve being always open and the valves being arranged to be opened
seriatim so that each filter gets an influx of fluid and a period of rest substantially
as herein before described.
2. The combination with a siphoning chamber having means for intermittent
discharge of fluid therefrom of a distributing channel or space and a wheel or its
equivalent actuated by the aforesaid discharge to partially rotate a shaft having
arms acting seriatim on a series of pivotted valves each connected to one of a series
of filters, substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination with a siphoning chamber having means for intermittent
discharge of fluid therefrom of a distributing channel or space and a water wheel
actuated by the aforesaid discharge to partially rotate a shaft having arms acting
seriatim on a series of pivotted valves each connected to one of a series of filters,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination with a siphoning chamber having means for intermittent
discharge of fluid therefrom of a distributing channel or space and a wheel or its
equivalent actuated by a balanced bucket or vessel or its equivalent moved by the
aforesaid discharge to partially rotate a shaft having arms acting seriatim on a series
of pivotted valves each connected to one of a series of filters, substantially as
herein before described.
5. The apparatus for feeding filters consisting of the siphoning chamber A and
check lever us and check bars f, distributing chamber B, water wheel C with
projections c¹, shaft d, arms d¹ to d³ and valves el to es combined and acting
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings Figs. 1, 2, 3
and 4.
6. The combination of a distributing channel or space provided with a series of
valves each communicating with one of a series of filters and mechanism for
automatically opening one valve each time the siphoning chamber discharges its
contents, one valve being always open and the valves provided with projections
acted on directly by the aforesaid mechanism, and each valve being so arranged as
to fall back and close of its own weight as the next valve is opened substantially
as herein before described.
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1
A
1000