AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF FILTER FRESSES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of. No. 1. Serle Street. Lincoln's
Inn, in the County of Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the
City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention-
of AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF FILTER FRESSES," -A communication from
abroad by Jacques Jacquier and Vincenz Danek, of the Firm of Jacquier,
Danek, and Company, of Paris.
Sealed the 21st February 1865, and dated the 25th August 1864.
August 1864.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF FILTER PRESSES." (a communication to me from
abroad by Jacques Jacquier and Vincenz Danek, of the Firm of Jacquier.
Danck, and Company, of Paris.) to be as follows:-
The communication above referred to is in the following terms:

page_text: "These filter presses have for their object the filtration of mixtures of
liquids and solid bodies, so as to obtain the liquids clear and the solids dry.
"In these filter presses the pressure is obtained either by the liquid to be
filtered, that is to say, by hydrostatic pressure, or by compressed water, or by
steam with the intervention of a strainer, or by steam direct, or by air, or
any gas, cold or hot, or lastly, by employing a vacuum by atmospheric
pressure or by a pump.
"The apparatus can be constructed in metal, wrought iron, cast iron, alloy
of copper, or in wood or other materials. It is composed of a certain number
of filtering surfaces placed in juxtaposition, covered with cloth and of moveable
frames or moulds interposed between the filtering surfaces.
"The matter to be filtered enters into these frames, and whilst the liquid
passes through the cloth and the filtering surfaces, the solid matter remains
in the frames as in a mould. This matter is dry and dense.
"The entry of the matter to be filtered into these frames is not effected as
one would suppose by a cock opening over each frame, which cocks would
have to be opened and closed at each operation, but the entry into each frame
is effected by means of an internal duct, formed by the juxtaposition of the
plates of filtering material and the frames, and this duct has an opening over
each frame.
"In certain cases it may be required to exhaust and wash, completely the
cake of matter in the frames or moulds from the last particles of liquid which
it may contain. For this purpose we arrange also in the interior of the
apparatus another duct formed like the preceding by the juxtaposition of the
filtering surfaces and the frames.
This duct; instead of opening like the
former into each frame, opens into the space between the filtering surfaces,
that is to say, between the plates of filtering material and the frames or
moulds containing the matter. This duct introduces either hot or cold water,
steam, or gas, or any suitable liquid, and these agents flowing through the
duct, pass through the cakes of matter and deprive them of the last traces of
liquid which they may contain, and dry them also if required.
We apply the apparatus to all manufactures wherein it is required to
separate liquids from solid matters, and especially to manufacturing and
refining sugar, to the residuum of distilleries and breweries, to the pressure
of yeast, to farina and starch manufacture, to chemical products, and other
analogous purposes."

page_text: PECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES. of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Davies, Her special licence that I, the said George
Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF
FILTER PRESSES," (a communication to me from abroad by Jacques Jacquier
and Vincenz Danek, of the Firm of Jacquier, Danek, and Company, of-
Paris,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Davies, my executors or administrators. by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said George Davies, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference being had to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, that is to say:-
"
or (as
This Invention relates to an improved system of "filter presses
pressure filters," which
they might perhaps more properly be termed)
5 present great advantages in their various industrial applications, and more
especially in the manufacture and refining of sugar...
These "filter-presses have-for their object the filtration of mixtures of

page_text: niquids and solid bodies in such a manner as to obtain the liquids clear and the
solids dry.
In these "filter presses" the pressure is obtained either by the liquid to be
filtered (that is, by hydrostatic pressure), or by steam with the intervention of
a strainer, or by steam direct, or by heated air, or by any gas (carbonic acid,
for instance), or by means of a vacuum, or even by a pump, if the manu-
factory where the "filter presses" are applied cannot furnish the other means
indicated for creating or establishing a pressure. And I would here remark,
that in "filter presses hitherto tried the pressure, was obtained by a pump,
the impact of which caused the rupture of the bags, whilst the constant
pressure which is obtained by the means above described obviates this great
defect.
In sugar manufactories and refineries the use of these "filter presses " is
to separate from the saccharine juices all the bodies which are found in
suspension therein during the different operations which they undergo, whether
defecation, saturation, carbonization, or clarification.
These filter presses" are also applicable to the extraction of the juice of
beetroot; they can also be applied to all manufactures where it is required to
separate any liquid from any solid body which renders it turbid, and to impart
a perfect limpidity thereto.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for "An Improved
System of "Filter Presses," I will now proceed to describe more in detail the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect; and in order that the same may be distinctly understood, I
have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with
those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say:-
"
In the annexed Drawing, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a
"filter press
"
Or pressure filter" constructed according to this system;
Figure 2 is a horizontal or plan view of the same as seen from above, being
partly drawn in section in order to show the interior arrangement of the
plates; Figure 3 is an end view; and Figure 4 a transverse section.
These "filter presses" are divided into compartments, and are composed of
two strong cast-iron exterior plates a and c, between which are interposed
alternately the frames or moulds b and the grooved plates d in such a manner
that each of the frames is closed on both sides by the faces of the plates d,
and thus the compartments of the filter are formed. The plates d. are fur-
nished on both sides with vertical grooves, and are perforated at their upper
part with a hole i; the frames b are also provided at their upper part with

page_text: hort tubes r in such positions that they correspond with the openings
he plates d. The short tubes r of the frames or moulds b open a commu-
ication with the interior of these by means of holes ; these plates and
rames thus interposed between the plates a and c are supported by means of
he arms upon the rods e. The apparatus is opened or closed by moving
he plate c by means of a screw (the nut of which is fixed) actuated by a
ly wheel g.
Before the closing of the apparatus each frame is furnished with a filtering
cloth or cloths thrown across it so as to cover both sides; these cloths are
pierced with a hole on each side, so as to allow of the passage therethrough
The hole of the cloth is
of the short tube r of the frames or moulds.
hemmed round or (what is better) furnished with a metallic eyelet, and this
hem or eyelet lodges in the space between the diameters of the short
tubes and the holes i of the grooved plates. The cloths, instead of being
thrown across the frames (which obliges their withdrawal at each operation)
may be fixed on the grooved plates. When the cloths are thus fixed either
on the frames b or on the plates d, the apparatus is closed by means of the
fly wheel and the juxtaposition of the edges of the plates and the flames
(between which the cloths are arranged as above described) forms a her-
metical joint. It must be understood that to arrive at this desideratum the
edges of these plates and frames should be planed or ground; thus there is no
egress for the filtered material through the cloth excepting by the holes z
communicating with the collecting pipes t. The interior of the compartments
is in communication with the tube p by the conduit formed by the juxta-
position of the holes r of the frames and the openings i of the grooved plates.
The plate a carries at its upper part a tube p, having three branches, one of
which is in communication with the liquid to be filtered, the second with the
liquid used for washing the final deposit, and the third with steam for cleaning
the main conduit.
pump, or by the
The operation is as follows:-By means either of a
pressure of the "monte-jus" (an apparatus which works by the, pressure of
steam on the surface of the syrup), or by the pressure of steam direct, or by
the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid itself placed for this purpose in an
elevated reservoir. The liquid to be filtered is introduced by the triple tube
into the main conduit, wherein, it is distributed into the several compartments
by the holes r. The solid matter is retained by the cloths whilst the liquid
passes clear through the latter; it then runs along the channels or grooves.
When the compartments
and issues by the holes z and collecting pipes t.

page_text: have become filled by the solid matter, which soon becomes evident by the
rapid diminution in the flow of the juice, the introduction of the liquid to be
filtered is to be discontinued; the apparatus is then opened and the frames
emptied or replaced by fresh frames previously furnished with the necessary
cloths; this substitution is made rapidly, and the operation commences
afresh.
If it is desirable to wash the matter retained in the compartments, it is not
necessary to wait till the frames are entirely filled with solid matter, as in the
preceding case, but the introduction of the liquid to be filtered should be dis-
continued as soon as the two layers formed on the two filtering surfaces in
each compartment have still left between them a sufficient space, that the
liquid or steam intended to wash the deposit by injection can act upon the
whole interior surface of the two layers at the same time, so as to effect an
equal and complete washing. In cases where the liquid issuing from one or
more of the compartments runs thick or turbid, it is easy to stop this partial
flow by closing the corresponding tube, either by a bolt a provided at the
head and nut with washers of india-rubber, or by screw plugs, or conical
stoppers, or even, if preferred, by taps previously provided at each end of the
tubes t.
33
When these "filter presses are applied to certain trades, such as sugar
manufactories and refineries, distilleries, and others in which the liquids
retained in the cakes of solid matter formed in the frames have a certain
value, it is important to be able to wash and cleanse these cakes more per-
fectly than by the method above described, in order to leave therein none or
the least possible amount of the liquid; in fact, this means obliges the work-
men to stop the operation of the apparatus before the frames are quite full.
To effect this desideratum of a better washing or cleansing, there is another
conduit,, formed (like the one r, i, which admits the liquid to be filtered)
of short tubes r in the frames corresponding with holes in the grooved
plates; but this conduit, instead of opening, as the former does, into the
interior of the frames by the holes i, communicates with the interior of the
grooves by the passages x', which only exist in each alternate grooved plate;]
this conduit is supplied with water or steam as required by the pipe p. This
water or steam, instead of traversing the cakes of solid matter in a vertical
direction, as might occur in the mode of proceeding above referred to, spreads
over the whole grooved surface of the plates where the passages r¹ arc, and
passes through the cakes in the direction of their least thickness, that is to
say, in a horizontal direction.

page_text: In order that the water or steam used for this cleansing should not pass
uselessly through the apparatus (that is to say, without having traversed the
cakes), it is necessary to close, by one of the methods above pointed out, the
tubes of those plates which are pierced with the passages ¹ communicating
with the grooves before the water or steam is admitted. These agents then
not being able to flow out by the grooves where they entered, are forced to
pass through the cakes (and thus effect their cleansing) to find an issue at
the bottom of the intervening grooved plates, the tubes of which have been
left open.
In cases where it is feared that the water or steam used for washing might
pass away too quickly to wash perfectly, or they might wear away partial
passages through the cakes, the washing operation may be performed inter-
mittently. For this purpose, whilst the water or steam is injected in a con-
tinuous manner, the tubes of those plates where the passages ¹ do not exist
are only opened from time to time. During these intermissions the water or
steam, always injected at the same pressure, macerates the matter forming
the cake, and thus a perfect washing is effected. To apply this method of
working in the readiest manner the closing of the tubes should be effected by
means of taps.
This additional conduit, i, allowing of the perfect washing of the solid
matter, constitutes quite a different instrument from that which contains only
the conduit r, i, and hence these "filter presses can be made either with or
without this additional or washing conduit, according to the purposes to
which they are to be applied. It will be understood that when the con-
duit r,, is employed, the filtering cloths must have corresponding openings
also.
With reference to the employment of the filtering cloths, whether fixed to
the grooved plates or merely thrown across the frames, as first named, it may
happen that the cloths may adhere either wholly or in part to the bottom of
the grooves, either by reason of their bad quality or from too great pressure;
if this inconvenience should arise, it is readily obviated by interposing metallic
tissue between the cloth and the grooves. This metallic tissue should be
fixed on to the grooved plates. Lastly, whatever be the means employed for
using the cloths, it is always an excellent precaution, at the moment of
opening the apparatus, to place over the vessels a thin plank of wood or
metal to prevent any pieces of the cakes of solid matter which might escape
from the frames from falling into the vessels, which is intended to receive
the juice or syrup. This precaution is still more necessary- when the cloths

page_text: are fixed on the grooved plates instead of being merely thrown across the
frames; in fact, if the cloths are just thrown across the frames, and if small
pins are passed through the lower part which projects beyond the frames, it
will be very seldom that any pieces of the cake will fall into the vessel,
because if some small pieces should become detached, they will be retained by
the cloth thus pinned, and will be removed with the frame. If, on the other
hand, the cloths are fixed to the grooved plates, the frames can, at the moment
of removal, let fall some pieces of the cake, which will soil the interior of the
vessel.
In many cases (in the extraction of water from fecula, for example) it
may be desirable, according to the requirements of commerce, to obtain cakes
of smaller dimensions; this may be readily effected without diminishing the
dimensions of the "filter press," and to obtain this result it is only necessary
to fix, lengthwise and crosswise, in the interior of the frames small bars of
iron, which by their intersection form so many small cases as may be desired,
and from which after each operation are removed the small cakes of fecula of
the required size, and which may even be of a regular weight, if care be taken
always to operate with the same pressure. It will be understood that in the
application here referred to steam must not be employed to give the pressure,
because the temperature of the steam would transform the fecula.
But in the application of these "filter presses" to the clarification and
refining of sugar (which application is more particularly claimed) the hot water
and steam injected effect a perfect cleansing of the cakes of animal black and
albumenous coagulum formed in the frames. These "filter presses will dis-
pense with a considerable amount of manual labor in refineries, and diminish
the quantity of weak syrup which is so easily spoiled in the ordinary method
of cleansing the animal black employed in the clarification.
With this apparatus the filtration of the clearings of the sugar is rapid,
and the cleansing taking place in closed vessels (and very frequently), the
wash waters are much less exposed to alteration; besides which the space
occupied by this apparatus is considerably less than that required by the
apparatus ordinarily in use.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
"An Improved System of Filter Presses," together with the manner in which
the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I would
remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention communicated to me by
the within-named Jacques Jacquier and Vincenz Danek the system of "filter
presses" or "pressure filters" above described and exhibited in the Drawings

page_text: annexed, together with their application to various industrial manufactures,
and more particularly to the manufacture and refining of sugar, without
imiting or confining the same to the exact from or dimensions of the several
parts shown, nor to the number of the compartments employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
GEORGE DAVIES. (L.s.)