Improvements in Filtering Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by THE JEWELL EXPORT FILTER COMPANY, of 26,
Cortlandt Street, New York, State of New York, U.S.A.]
Improvements in Filtering Apparatus.
I, DAVID YOUNG, Patent Agent, of the Firm of D. Young & Co., of 11 and 12,
Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 filters and is herein shown as embodied in a filter of
the class in which a revolving agitator is employed to loosen up the filter bed and
there by facilitate the removal of sedimentary or foreign matter from the filter.
This invention has for one of its objects to provide simple and efficient means
for operating the agitator, whereby the latter may be actuated with a minimum
amount of power and at a minimum expense in a filter of increased capacity.
Another feature of this invention consists in an efficient and novel construction
of the filter tank or vessel, as will be described.
The filter may further be provided with rotatable means by which some or all
of the impurities may be removed from the surface of the filter bed, when the
agitator is inserted into said bed and is revolving therein.
The invention further has for its object to provide an automatic regulating
weir which is connected to the filter and with which may be secured a constant
rate of dischare of filtered water from the weir tank irrespective of the height
of the column of filtered water in said weir tank, and irrespective of the condition
of the filter bed.
These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claim at the
end of this specification.
Fig. 1 is a section and elevation of a filtering apparatus embodying this inven-
tion.
Fig. 2, a detail in plan of a portion of the filter tank shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.
Fig. 4, a detail on an enlarged scale in section and elevation of a portion of the
agitator operating mechanism.
Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, details to be referred to.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12, details of the valve mechanism for controlling the operation
of the agitator.
Fig. 13, a sectional detail on an enlarged scale of the automatic regulating weir.
Fig. 14, a similar view with the weir at a lower level in the weir tank, and
Fig. 15, a sectional detail on the line 15-15, Fig. 13.
The tank or vessel A of circular form and of a novel construction as will be
described, contains within it a filter bed a of sand or other suitable granular

page_text: material, which is adapted to be loosened up by means of an agitator, preferably
of the construction shown, and which consists of a series of radial arms α
radiating from a hub a³, and having depending teeth a³. The hub a², in accor-
dance with this invention, is fast on a piston rod at having its upper end extended
through a suitable bushing or hub a (see dotted lines, Fig. 1) in an opening in
a cross bar a forming part of the support for the operating mechanism for the
agitator.
The piston rod a' is provided at its upper end with a piston a, preferably of
the form or construction herein shown (see Fig. 4), and which will be hereinafter
described. The piston a' is adapted to be reciprocated in a cylinder a³, which
preferably forms part of the rotating mechanism for the agitator.
In the present instance, the cylinder as has secured to its lower end (see Fig. 1)
a substantially large gear a³, driven by a pinion a¹ on a shaft a provided with a
gear a3 in mesh with a pinion a¹ on a shaft a constituting a main or driving
shaft, and provided with a driving pulley a¹6 and a suitable clutch mechanism ali
The piston a is movable longitudinally in its cylinder, and may and preferably
will be provided at substantially diametrically opposite points with radial lugs or
projections a¹8, extended beyond the circumference of the piston and into suitable
guideways a20 extended longitudinally of the cylinder as
The radial lugs or projections a¹8 and the guideways 20 form a positive connec-
tion between the piston a and the cylinder as, whereby rotation of the said cylinder
may effect rotation of the piston without interfering with its reciprocation in said
cylinder.
The piston a may and preferably will be rendered liquid tight in the cylinder as
by means of suitable packing cups or rings bb secured to the opposite faces of the
said piston by metal rings or plates 66 fastened to the said piston by bolts * 65.
The piston a is adapted to be reciprocated in the cylinder 8 by means of water or
other fluid admitted into the cylinder at its opposite ends. The cylinder as may and
preferably will be provided as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with a raised cap or cover b
forming a chamber 67, provided with a water inlet pipe 68, preferably of the con-
struction herein shown and constituting a cylindrical valve. The inlet pipe 68 is
vertically movable in the cover or cap 66, and is provided at its upper end with a
flange and in its sides near its lower end with a series of ports
or openings 10 and the said inlet pipe is preferably provided with a bottom
having a substantially large port or opening with which co-operates a ball
valve 612.
The inlet pipe or valve extends into a chamber 6, with which communicates
a passage 615 in a divided pipe 616, which latter is extended through a chamber b
with which communicates a passage in the divided pipe 616. The passage is
communicates with the chamber 617 through a port 6 in the pipe 66, and the
chamber is connected by a pipe with the cylinder a near its bottom and
below the piston therein, (see Fig. 1).
The passages 15, 618 are adapted to be alternately connected to a liquid supply
and discharge pipe as will be described. The flow of the water into the cylinder a
may and preferably will be controlled by a suitable valve mechanism, which may
be located in any place convenient to the operator. In Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive,
is shown a preferred form of valve mechanism, which consists of a casing w.
provided with ports w¹, w², w³, w, controlled by a valve w³, which is rotated or
turned by a lever . The port w¹ has connected to it a supply pipe w. The
port is connected by pipe to the passage
the port s
by pipe
1993
to
the passage 18, and the port has connected
it the waste pipe
The valve is shown as in its closed position
and at such time the piston a is stationary. When the lever u is turned so that
it points to the word "down," Fig. 10, the valve is turned so as to connect the
supply pipe w with the chamber 6 through the pipe us, and water or other fluid
is admitted into the chamber 6, from which it Hows down through the inlet
to

page_text: pipe 68 and ports 10 into the cylinder above the piston. At the same time, the
pipe is connected with the waste pipe w10. When the lever w is turned so that
it points to the word "UP" the supply pipe w is connected to the passage 618
through the pipe w, and water is admitted into the chamber 67 through the
port 61, and from said chamber it flows through the pipe 620 into the cylinder a³
below the piston a. By this movement of the lever w, the pipe wo is connected
with the waste pipe 2010
When the water is admitted into the cylinder above the piston a', the latter is
moved downward in its cylinder, and the agitator is carried down with it, and the
teeth a³ of the latter are inserted into the filter bed. As the piston a' is moved
down in its cylinder, the water in the cylinder below the piston is forced out
through the pipe 620 into the chamber 617, from which it flows through the port 619,
passage 68, pipe wº, valve casing w, to the waste or discharge pipe wo. When the
How of water is reversed, and it is admitted into the cylinder below the piston,
the latter is moved upward in its cylinder, and the agitator is lifted out of the
filter bed. When the piston is moved upward in its cylinder, the water therein
above the piston is forced out through the inlet pipe 68 through the port in its
bottom, the ball valve 612 being lifted from its seat, and into the chamber 6, from
which it flows through the passage 615, pipe us, valve casing w, to the waste or
discharge pipe w10.
It is desirable that the agitator should be kept elevated above and out of contact
with the filter bed during the process of filtration, and as the water acting on the
under side of the piston might leak by the piston into the cylinder above the
piston which is connected with the discharge or exhaust pipe, it is preferred to
mechanically suspend the piston in its elevated position. This result may and
preferably will be accomplished by an automatically operated locking device, pre-
ferably of the construction herein shown (see Figs. 4 and 5) and consisting of two
levers 30, 31 loosely mounted on pins or rods 633, 6 supported in the sides of
the cap b6 and provided at one end with hooks 634, 635 to engage eye-bolts 36, 637
attached to the top of the piston a'. The levers 30, 631 have their long arms
extended into line with the movable inlet pipe or valve 68 and are adapted to be
turned on their pivot pins 732, 633 by said inlet pipe to unlock the piston, and to
be turned in the opposite direction to lock the piston by means of suitable
springs 640, only one of which is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The springs 640
have one end engaged with the levers 6,631 and their other end fastened to the
cap be as shown in Fig. 5.
By an inspection of Fig. 4, it will be seen, that when the water is admitted into
the chamber 6, the inlet pipe or piston valve 68 is forced down by the water, and,
acting on the long arms of the levers 63031, turns the latter on their pivots and
disengages the hooked ends of said levers from the eye-bolts 636, 637,
and moves the said levers into the position represented by full lines,
Fig. 4. The locking levers 630, 631 are maintained in this position, as long
as the water pressure is on the inlet pipe or valve 68, but when the pressure of
the water is transferred to the under side of the piston, as above described, the
pressure is removed from the inlet pipe or valve, and the springs 610 turn the
locking levers into line with the eye-bolts 6, 37, so that when the piston a reaches
the end of its up-stroke, the locking levers are automatically engaged with the
eye-bolts and mechanically support the piston and the agitator in their elevated
position, thereby ensuring the removal of the teeth of the agitator from contact
with the filter bed during the process of filtration.
By means of the positive connection between the piston a' and its cylinder,
effected as described by the radial lugs extended from the circumference of the
piston into the longitudinal guideways in the cylinder, the said cylinder and
piston form part of the rotary driving mechanism for the agitator, which construc-
tion reduces the friction caused by the reciprocation of the piston, to such extent.
as to enable the size or area of the filter bed to be largely increased and the toothed
agitator arms to be correspondingly lengthened, without increasing the power

page_text: required to rotate the agitator, so that a minimum amount of power is required to
rotate the agitator in a filter of maximum capacity. So also, the reduction in
friction referred to, enables the piston and its attached agitator to be raised and
lowered while in rotation, with a minimum amount of fluid pressure. Another
feature of this invention consists in an improved construction of the filter tank or
vessel and of the well extended up through the filter bed.
In accordance with this feature of the invention, the filter tank or vessel is
provided with a bottom composed of a series of sectional collecting trays or pans
radiating from and connected to a central well, which is provided with two dis-
tinct chambers cc. The chamber c is formed as shown, by a substantially large
cylinder and the enlarged mouth or upper part of a pipe ct to which the cylinder
is secured as by bolts c, the pipe c being extended down into and laterally through
the chamber c', which is formed by a cylinder integral with the pipe c¹.
The cylinder is provided with a flanged opening to which is bolted or otherwise
secured a pipe c7, and at its upper end, the cylinder is provided with a sub-
stantially thick annular flange 8, which rests upon a wooden or other bottom
wall of the tank or vessel as shown in Fig. 1. In the present instance, the bottom
wall of the tank or vessel is represented as formed by two layers e, eo, of wood,
which rest upon brick or other supports c12, set upon a foundation 13 of cement
or other suitable solid material.
The thickened flange is provided with suitable ports or passages c¹³, which
communicate with the chamber c¹ and with which are connected the collecting
pans or trays forming the bottom proper for the filter tank or vessel. The trays
referred to, may and preferably will be made as herein shewn and consist of a
bottom plate 16 inclined downward from its outer end toward its inner end, and
upright side walls c17, 18 (see Fig. 3) and an upright outer rim 19 (see Fig. 1).
The trays or pans may be provided with one or more longitudinal upright ribs
or webs 20 upon which rest cross bars 2, which serve to support the foraminous or
perforated top for the said tray or pan. The top may and preferably will
be made in sections, of plates or strips of copper, brass or bronze provided with
substantially fine perforations, some only of which are shown in Fig. 2. The
upright side walls 17, 18 of the collecting trays are preferably made so that their
upper edges are in a substantially horizontal plan with the upper edge of the
rim so as to support the perforated top in a horizontal plane and thereby
form a horizontal surface upon which the filter bed a may rest.
The upright side walls 17, 18 of the trays converge from the outer rim toward
the inner end of the tray (see Fig. 2) and are extended into or connected with the
ports or passages in the thickened flange. The radiating trays with their
perforated or foraminous tops, form radiating sections of the perforated supporting
bottom for the filter bed, and are preferably arranged about the central well so as
to leave radiating spaces between them, in which may be placed pipes co, which
communicate at their inner end with the chamber through ports or passages (31
in the thickened flange 8, and which may communicate at their outer ends with
curved castings or gutter wells d, arranged in a circle about the lower part of the
tank or vessel A. and separated by spaces, which are filled with pieces d¹, pre-
ferably of wood, and of substantially the thickness of the gutter castings, so as to
form with the inner side of said castings, a substantially smooth continuous cir-
cumferential inner wall for the lower part or half of the tank or vessel A con-
taining the filter bed, and in close proximity to which, the outermost teeth on the
radial arms of the agitator may travel in the filter bed, thereby ensuring efficient
washing of the filter bed near the walls of the filter tank. The gutter castings
form circumferential wells and extend above the filter bed 50 ач
to connert the water pace above he fir bed with the chamber of
the central well. The collecting trays of the sectional bottom and the pines ("
are embedded in substantially thick layer of cement to as shown in Fig. 3.
The pipe has bolted or otherwise secured to it a pipe d, which is extended
below the bottom of the filter tank to the outside thereof, and the said pipe is
provided with a suitable cut-off valve d¹³ (see Fig. 1) adapted to be operated by

page_text: a valve stem or rod d, and with a branch pipe d¹5 indicated by dotted lines Fig. 1,
which is provided with a valve (716 operated by a stem or rod d¹.
The chamber c¹ of the central well has connected to it the pipe c² extended in
a substantially opposite direction below and beyond the filter, and this pipe is
provided with a valve 20 having an operating stem or rod 21, and with a branch
pipe indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1, which also has a valve d³ operated by
a stem or rod 24, and which may be connected to a tank or vessel containing
filtered water.
The filter above described may and preferably will have its outlet pipe for
filtered water connected to an automatic regulating weir, which as shown consists
of a tank or vessel m, provided within it with a telescopic discharge or outlet pipe,
composed of a rigid upright section m¹ and a movable section m². The movable
section m² slides on the section m¹ and is rendered liquid tight by a suitable
packing ring m¹.
The movable section m² is provided at its upper end with a weir, preferably made
as herein shown and consisting of a diagram, disk or plate n having one or more
openings n in it, through which the water or other fluid passes into the discharge
or outlet pipe.
The diaphragm n in the present instance is shown as provided with one sub-
stantially large central opening, and the said diaphragm may be detachably
secured to the movable pipe or section m² in any suitable manner, as by screws m³
(see Fig. 13). The movable section m² of the outlet pipe has connected to it a
Hoat, preferably of the construction hereinshown, it consisting of a hollow air
tight easing 4, preferably of cylindrical shape and having a central opening n³
substantially in line with the opening n¹ in the diaphragm . The hollow casing
or float as herein shown is of greater diameter than the movable section m² of
the outlet pipe, and is supported above the diaphragm n in any suitable manner,
as for instance by arms n. The float n is supported above the diaphragm n, so
as to obtain a constant head of water above the diaphragm, irrespective of the
position of the weir in the tank or vessel m, which results in the water in the
weir tank being discharged therefrom at a constant rate, irrespective of the con-
dition of the filter bed a in the filter tank A.
At the beginning of the filtering process, the filter bed is clean and the process
of filtration is comparatively rapid, and the column of filtered water in the weir
tank is highest at that time, and the movable section m² of the discharge or outlet
pipe is lifted into substantially the position shown in Fig. 1. As the process of
filtration proceeds, the filter bed becomes gradually clogged by the arrested matter,
and the filtered water flows into the weir tank at a gradually decreasing rate, so
that the height of the column of water in the weir tank diminishes, and as it
diminishes, the float + descends, thereby lowering the movable section of the
outlet or discharge pipe to adapt the latter to the height of the column of filtered
water, and thereby obtain a constant rate of discharge of filtered water irrespectivo
of the condition of the filter bed.
By means of the diaphragm or weir n on the upper end of the outlet pipe sec-
tion m², which practically closes said end except as to the orifice n¹, and by means
of the float supported above the end of said pipe section, a constant head of water
is obtained above the opening in the weir, which ensures the water being under a
constant pressure or head irrespective of the height of the column of water in the
weir tank, and consequently ensures a uniform discharge of filtered water from said
weir tank. The area of the opening n' in the diaphragm n may be increased or
decreased as desired, to control the volume and rate of discharge of the filtered
water.
By making the diaphragm or weir n detachable from the pipe m², any desired
ate of discharge of water may be obtained by substituting, for one having an
pening of a given discharging capacity, a second diaphragin having an opening
openings of different discharging capacity. The diaphragm or weir n closes
he upper end of the pipe m² except as to the openings n¹ in it.

page_text: When the column of water in the weir tank has been lowered to a predetermined
point, it is desirable that notice of this fact should be given, as at that time, the
filter bed should be washed, and to obtain this notice, an alarm is employed, which
is operated automatically by the movable section of the outlet pipe or by the float
as shown in the present instance. The alarm referred to, is represented as an
electically operated gong or bell o included in a normally open circuit containing
a battery of and provided with a fixed line terminal and a movable line
terminal o, which is shown as secured to a rod of fastened to a cross bar o' attached
to the float within the opening n.
Under normal conditions, the circuit of the bello is open as shown in Fig. 1,
but when the level of the water in the weir tank has been lowered to a pre-
determined point indicated by the dotted line 08, Fig. 14, the circuit of said bell
will be closed, and notice will thereby be given that the filter bed a should be
washed.
The
The filter tank A may also be provided with additional outlets for the impurities
upon the surface of the filter bed a and especially for the impurities which are
thrown by centrifugal action toward the outer edge of the filter bed.
additional outlets may and preferably will be made as hereinshown and consist
of one or more conduits or pipes carried by the radial arms a¹ of the agitator.
The pipes p extend to near the circumferential wall of the filter tank and are
preferably provided with enlarged mouths or inlets p which incline downward
from the pipes p and revolve with the agitator in close proximity to the surface
of the filter bed a when the agitator is in its lowered position. Each pipe may
have a depending leg extended into the chamber c of the central wall and
movable vertically therein when the agitator is raised and lowered.
The depending leg of the conduit or conduits 2 acts as a siphon to draw the
water containing intercepted matter, through the conduits into the chamber c,
and the main body of wash-water passing directly down through the said chamber,
creates a suction which facilitates the removal of the intercepted water near the
walls of the filter tank.
The conduit p is shown as separate from the agitator arms, but it is evident that
the said arms may be made hollow and provided with an inlet opening or openings
so as to form conduits for the wash-water.
It may be desirable to employ both the conduits p and the gutter wells d, but
either alone may be employed with excellent results.
The piston rod may be extended down into the chamber e and guided and
supported at its lower end by a guide tube or hub attached by arms to a
ring clamped between the cylinders of the central well.
In the operation of the filtering apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the agitator is pre-
ferably held suspended above the filter bed as shown, and the water to be filtered
is allowed to flow into the filter tank above the filter bed through the supply
pipe (the valve being open and the valve in the branch pipe being
closed), through the pipe and upper chamber c of the central well and also
through the pipes and gutter wells d. The unfiltered water percolates through
the filter bed into the collecting pans or trays, from which the filtered water
flows through the ports c5 into the lower chamber c¹ of the central well, and from
this chamber it passes through the outlet pipe c into the weir tank m, the
valve being open, and the valve in the branch pipe being closed. The
filtered water rises in the weir tank and passes out therefrom through the open-
mg in the weir into the discharge pipe.
When it is desired to wash the filter bed, the valves 13, 720 are closed and the
valves d, opened, and filtered water from a suitable source of supply, is forced
through the nine into the chamber ¹, thence through the ports and collecting
trays into and up through the filter be, which at this time may and preferably
will loosened up by the rotation of the agitator as above described, and after
passing through the filter bed, the wash-water with the impurities passes down
through the chamber c of the central well and also into said chamber through

page_text: C
the gutter wells d and pipes and through the conduits p. The wash-water
passes from the chamber c through the pipe c, d and branch pipe d¹³ to the sewer
or other depository for the wash-water. When the filter bed has been thoroughly
washed, the agitator is raised, the valves d, 2 are closed, the valves d,d=s
again opened, and the process of filtration resumed. The automatic regulating
weir may be used with any form of filter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is;-
1. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed contained therein, an
agitator for said filter bed, a piston connected to said agitator to move the same, a
cylinder in which said piston is reciprocated, and mechanical means to rotate
said agitator and piston independent of the fluid employed to reciprocate said
piston, substantially as described.
2. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed contained therein, an
agitator for said filter bed, a piston connected to said agitator to move
the same, a cylinder in which said piston is reciprocated,
means to
rotate said cylinder, and means to connect said piston to said cylinder to rotate
therewith and yet permit said piston to reciprocate in said cylinder, substantially
as described.
3. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed contained therein, an
agitator for said filter bed, a piston connected to said agitator to move the same,
a cylinder in which said piston is reciprocated, and means to mechanically lock
said piston at the end of its stroke with the agitator in its elevated position, sub-
stantially as described.
4. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed contained therein, a
water inlet pipe extended upward through the bottom of the tank or vessel and
above the surface of the filter bed, a vertically movable and rotatable agitator in
said tank or vessel, a piston connected to said agitator, a cylinder in which said
piston is adapted to be reciprocated to raise and lower said agitator, and means to
effect rotation of said agitator independent of said water inlet pipe, substantially
as described.
5. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed therein, a vertically
movable and rotatable agitator in said tank or vessel, a piston connected to said
agitator and provided with radial projections or lugs, a cylinder for said piston
provided with longitudinal guide ways which said lugs or projections extend,
and means to rotate said cylinder, substantially as described.
6. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed therein, an agitator for
said filter bed, a reciprocating piston connected to said agitator, a cylinder for
said piston provided with fluid inlets at or near its opposite ends, and an automatic
mechanical locking device for said piston in its elevated position, substantially
as described.
7. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed therein, an agitator for
said filter bed, a reciprocating piston connected to said agitator, a cylinder for
said piston provided with fluid inlets at or near its opposite ends, an automatic
mechanical locking device for said piston in its elevated position, and means
actuated by fluid pressure to act on said locking device and release the said piston,
substantially as described.
8. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed contained therein, a
central well composed of an upper chamber extended up through the filter bed
and a lower chamber separate from the upper chamber and extended below the
bottom of the tank or vessel, a series of trays or pans communicating with the
said lower chamber and provided with foraminous or perforated tops upon which
the filter bed rests, an outlet pipe connected to said lower chamber, and a supply
pipe communicating with the upper chamber, substantially as described.
9. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel to contain the filter bed, a central

page_text: well, and a plurality of gutter castings or wells arranged about the lower part of
the tank or vessel, and independent pipes connecting the said gutter castings with
the central weil, substantially as described.
10. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed therein, a central well,
and a series of sectional pans or trays provided with foraminous tops to support the
filter bed and communicating with the central well, substantially as described.
11. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed therein, a central well,
a series of sectional pans or trays radiating from said central well and provided
with foraminous tops to support the filter bed, and a series of gutter wells or
castings arranged about the lower part of the inner wall of the tank or vessel, and
pipes extended from the gutter wells between the radiating pans or trays and com-
municating with the central well, substantially as described.
12. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed therein, a central well
consisting of an upper chamber c, a lower chamber c¹ provided with a water outlet
opening, a pipe et integral with the walls of the lower chamber and communicating
with the upper chamber, a supply pipe connected to the pipe 4, and an outlet pipe
connected to the outlet opening for the chamber c¹, substantially as described.
13. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed therein, a central well
consisting of an upper chamber c, a lower chamber c¹ provided with a water outlet
opening, a pipe c integral with the walls of the lower chamber and communicating
with the upper chamber, a supply pipe connected to the pipe 4, and an outlet pipe
connected to the outlet opening for the chamber c¹, branch pipes d1, d22, connected
to the supply and outlet pipes, and valves in said supply, outlet and branch pipes,
substantially as described.
14. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed therein, a central well,
and a series of gutter wells or castings arranged about the lower part of the cir-
cumferential wall of the said tank with the inner faces in substantially the same
circle, filling pieces inserted between adjacent gutter wells and having their inner
faces in substantially the same circle as the inner faces of the gutter wells, and
means to connect the gutter wells with the central well, substantially as described.
15. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed therein, a central well
consisting of a casting having a flange at its upper end provided with ports to
connect the filter tank with a chamber c¹ in said casting below the bottom of said
tank or vessel, a pipe integral with said casting, a pipe 2 located below the
bottom of the filter tank and connected to the pipe 4, and a pipe located below
the bottom of the filter tank and connected with the chamber e¹, substantially
as described
16. In a filtering apparatus, a rotatable cylinder provided with longitudinal
slots or guideways, a piston reciprocating within said cylinder having lugs or
projections extended into said slots or guideways to enable said piston to be rotate.
while it is being reciprocated in said cylinder, substantially as described.
17. In a filtering apparatus, a rotatable cylinder, a piston adapted to be recipio-
cated therein, and means to positively connect said piston to said cylinder to effect
rotation of the piston while it is being reciprocated in the said cylinder, sub-
stantially as described.
18. In a filtering apparatus, a tank or vessel, a filter bed contained therein, a
rotatable agitator, a cylinder and a piston located therein and connected thereto
to rotate therewith, and means to rotate said cylinder, piston and agitator, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
20. In a filtering apparatus, a filter tank or vessel containing a filter bed
therein, an agitator adapted to be inserted into and withdrawn from said filter
bed, a central well extended above the filter bed, and a conduit for the intercepted
matter washed from said filter bed, communicating with said central well and
extended toward the walls of the filter tank above the filter bed and provided with
an inlet port or opening near its end, for the purpose specified.
21. In a filtering apparatus, a filter tank or vessel containing a filter bed, a
rotatable agitator adapted to be inserted into and withdrawn from said filter bed,

page_text: and a conduit for the wash-water in said tank comprising a pipe extended above
the filter bed from near its center toward its outer edge and provided with an inlet
port or opening near its outer end into which the wash-water above the filter bed
may pass when the agitator is inserted into said filter bed, for the purpose specified.
21. In a filtering apparatus, a filter tank or vessel containing a filter bed therein,
an agitator to loosen up the filter bed, and a conduit for the intercepted matter
washed from said bed extended from the center toward the outer edge of the filter
bed above the upper surface thereof and provided with an inlet opening near its
outer end, for the purpose specified.
22. In a filtering apparatus, a filter provided with an outlet for the filtered
liquid, a weir tank or vessel connected to said filter for the admission of filtered
liquid, an outlet pipe for said weir tank having a movable inlet section provided
with a diaphragm having an orifice, and a float connected to said inlet section to
raise and lower the same as the column of liquid in the weir tank varies, for the
purpose specified.
23. In a filtering apparatus, an automatic regulating weir comprising a tank
or vessel provided with an outlet pipe extended up within it and having a movable
upper section, a diaphragm attached to the upper end of said movable section of the
outlet pipe and provided with an orifice for the passage of the liquid into said out-
let pipe, and a float supported above and connected to said movable section of the
outlet pipe, for the purpose specified.
24. In a filtering apparatus, a filter tank or vessel containing a filter bed, a
rotatable agitator adapted to be inserted into and withdrawn from said filter bed,
and a conduit for the wash-water in said tank comprising a pipe extended above
the filter bed from near its center toward its outer edge and provided with an
enlarged inlet port or opening near its outer end into which the wash-water above
the filter bed may pass when the agitator is inserted into said filter bed, for the
purpose specified.
25. In a filtering apparatus, an automatic regulating weir comprising a tank or
vessel provided with an outlet pipe extended up within it and having a movable
upper section, a transverse disk, plate or diaphragm attached to the upper end of
said movable section of the outlet pipe and provided with an orifice for the passage
of the liquid into said outlet pipe of less area than the area of said outlet pipe, and
a float attached to said movable section of the outlet pipe, substantially as described.
Dated the 17th day of January 1899.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.