IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWERAGE, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1857

page_text: rotectio
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.).
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Thomas Manning at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th November 1857.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS MANNING, of 20, Great George Street, in the City of
Westminster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWERAGE, AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved system or mode of treating sewerage,
whereby its solid particles are separated from the fluid matter, and the latter
is deoderised and rendered clear and innoxious. I propose accomplishing this
end by the aid of a peculiar construction and arrangement of pneumatic
pressure apparatus, which effectually filters and deoderizes the sewerage.
This apparatus consists of a strong vessel constructed of boiler plate, and
having its bottom and sides perforated with a number of holes. It is closed
at the top, and is surrounded at the parts which are perforated by a woollen
or other suitable cloth, which is stretched over the outer surface of the vessel.
This vessel is placed within a second perforated vessel of similar construction
to the first, and furnished also with a woollen, cloth, or other suitable strainer;
a space is left between the bottom and sides of the two vessels, which space is
filled in with animal charcoal or other disinfectant. Two pipes open into the
top of the inner vessel, the one serving to admit the sewerage which is forced

page_text: in by means of force pumps, whilst the other pipe admits compressed air into
the vessel, which air is also forced in at a considerable pressure by the aid of
air pumps. At the bottom of the inner vessel is a discharge pipe for the
delivery or discharge of the solid matter into hermetically closed barges,
A cock or valve
or other convenient receptacles for the removal of the same.
is fitted to the discharge pipe and to the sewerage pipe, so that when the
vessel is full the supply cock may be closed, and the pneumatic pressure will
force the fluid matter through the perforations and charcoal into a third outer
chamber or tank, where the water, now mado pure and clear, is collected, and
thenco runs off in an innoxious state. The solid matter collects in the inner
vessel and is forced through the discharge pipe, when the cock or valve is
opened by the pressure above referred to; suitable outlet pipes may be used
for carrying off the gases if found desirable. In order to prevent the choking
of the pipes which supply the vessel with sewerage, I propose to construct
depositing tanks at the mouths of the sewers; such tanks being fitted with
gratings which will trap all large refuse matter and allow the ordinary solid
matter to pass through to the bottom of the tank, where agitators are used for
keeping the sediment from depositing. By this means the finer portion of the
solid matter is kept well stirred, and is drawn up by the pumps, whilst the
larger portions of the solid matter may be periodically removed by lifting up
the grating with the matter upon it and inserting another one. To facilitate
this suitable shafts may be sunk at those places where the depositing tanks
and gratings exist. The sewerage matter collected and carried off in the
barges, before referred to, may afterwards be dealt with in any manner for the
purpose of rendering the same applicable to the purposes of manure, &c.